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The Mystery of Wisdom –Part 4

Have you ever wondered why some people make foolish decisions that get them in trouble? In this post, we will learn why some people are wiser than others. In part one, we learned the difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom. In part two, we learned that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and what the fear of God looked like, and the benefits of fearing God. In part three, we learned that God gives wisdom to those who ask.

So, Who Gets Wisdom?

In the following passage, we will learn who gets wisdom and how it benefits them. When you have wisdom, you will know the right path to take and can walk away from people who want to lead you down an evil way.

Proverbs 2:6-15

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

God speaks through people, the Bible, and to us personally. We won’t remember everything we hear from godly pastors and teachers, but everything they say builds up our knowledge and gives us a greater understanding of truth and the character of God.

⁷he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Soundness gives the impression of purity, strength, and safety. When something is sound like a foundation or a well-built boat, you can trust that it is safe and strong. God stores up sound wisdom for those who are upright. An upright person seeks to do what is right, is honest, and is just to those around them. In addition, God protects those with a sound character who can be trusted to keep their promises.

⁸guarding the paths of justice and watching over [preserves] the way of his saints.

Because God is just, He guards those who are walking the morally right path; who seek to do what is right before God. God also keeps (protects) His saints, who are godly people, from harm or injury. To learn more about godliness, read my series of posts on godliness.

⁹Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

The “then” refers to the condition of being in a right relationship with God by seeking to do what is right, keeping your commitments, and being godly. You will understand God’s righteousness, justice, and equality when you have divine wisdom. You will also see the good path you should take.

¹⁰for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Wisdom comes into our hearts when we are right with God and as we attain knowledge of God’s truth and commandments. In part two, we learned that you gain knowledge and understanding with wisdom.

So how is knowledge pleasant to your soul? Do you think it is because God put a conscience in our souls so we can know or discern the good path? Also, the knowledge of God gives you a peaceful or pleasant feeling. The opposite of pleasant is fear, turmoil, anxiety, confusion, and so on. Which state is your soul in today? If your soul lacks peace, read my series of posts on the promises of God to grow in your knowledge of Him.

¹¹discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

Discretion is making the right decisions. Understanding is being able to discern or know what is good. Job 28:28b states, “To turn away from evil is understanding.’” When you have discretion and understanding, you can turn away from the evil and perverse people listed in the following verses. According to dictionary.com (2022), perverse means turning away from or rejecting what is right, good, sound, or proper. Perverse people are depraved, wicked, or corrupt in their thinking. Identify examples for each description of evil listed below.

¹¹discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, ¹²delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

¹³who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Wisdom also protects you from the allurement of impure sexual conduct with evil women. How many people do you know whose lives have been destroyed by adultery or fornication? King Solomon writes about controlling your lustful desires and choosing a wiser way. Proverbs 5:1-6 explains, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, ²that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. ³For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, ⁴but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; ⁶she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.” Proverbs 2:19 states, “None who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.” Always seek God for wisdom so you don’t leave the path of life. This reminds me of the book called “Pilgrims Progress” by John Bunion. If you haven’t read it, it is well worth reading.

Conclusion:

As I studied this passage and sought God for understanding, I now have a greater appreciation for wisdom. Now I know why some people are not wise and choose destructive paths. This passage has given me insight into what a perverted person is and the importance of avoiding them. Unfortunately, we are persecuted if we call out perverse thoughts and speech. Be courageous and stand up for righteousness, knowing that God is your shield and will protect you from harm.

I pray that you have a greater appreciation for wisdom too. If you have gone down a dark path with a perverted, evil person, you can turn to God, seek His forgiveness, and repent. 1John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And James 4:7-8 states, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” If you want to learn how to purify your soul, read my post Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul.

If you haven’t read my previous posts about the mystery of wisdom, I encourage you to do that now.

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family; hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected, and no part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my second book called, Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 3

Where does someone get wisdom? Some people say that you gain wisdom from experiences as you age. Some people believe you get specific wisdom by becoming an expert at something. For example, if you are an expert at investing money, you can make the right decisions based on that knowledge. And some people believe you get wisdom when you continue to learn because knowledge helps you make good and wise decisions. These common beliefs are true to a certain extent. Bias is a problem with experiential wisdom because it is often based on a faulty worldview or perspective.

The dictionary.com (2022) definition of wisdom says it is to know what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. This definition means you make choices based on what you judge as true and right. For example, if you believe you should avoid drinking alcohol because getting drunk impairs your brain, that is a wise decision based on truth or fact. The problem is that the dictionary definition can be applied to any personal truth or what you may believe is right. For instance, I think it is right that everyone does their fair share of the work around the house, but in reality, everyone has their biased idea of what is fair. Read my posts on fair bias, What is Wrong with Fairness?

Worldly wisdom is based on your standard of truth, which is based on false beliefs. We have different political parties because each party believes its truth is right and just. Political leaders make decisions based on their biased understanding of truth. The definition of truth is an idea that conforms to a fact or reality. Again, truth is often subjective. Therefore, true wisdom is based on God’s truth found in the Bible because God’s standard is perfect, good, and just.

Evidence of the two kinds of wisdom.

In part one, we learned the difference between worldly and godly wisdom. In James 3:14-17, we learned that someone with worldly wisdom is envious or jealous because they feel it isn’t right that another person has possessions and advantages they don’t have. Jealousy leads to hate, malice, and arguments. Worldly wisdom also involves selfish ambition, where a person thinks it is right to satisfy their selfish wants and desires at the expense of others. Pridefulness is the guiding force behind worldly wisdom. Read my post called, How Pride Destroys. James 3:16 states, ^“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice [evil work].”

On the other hand, the hallmark of godly wisdom is humility which is displayed by the purity of thoughts; seeking peace; being gentle even when wronged; can listen to reason; is merciful by not returning evil for evil. Godly wisdom seeks to do good to everyone and is impartial in their decisions. A person with godly wisdom will be sincere. Where do we get godly wisdom? Job 28: 12-13 states, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.”

In part two, we learned how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and what the fear of God was. We learned that the person who fears God will praise Him for all the great things He has done. They will faithfully serve Him by being attentive to what He wants. When you fear God, you will trust Him because you know He will help and protect you. Those that fear God will obey what He says to do. And, lastly, to turn from every evil thing that harms others and do good, which seeks to do things that are helpful and beneficial to others.

God is the source of wisdom.

Because God is the source of wisdom then you must be submitted to Him and make Him the center of your life, otherwise, you won’t have His wisdom. An unsubmitted life is just a casual relationship with God where you live outside of His will and wisdom. Are you reading your Bible to know God’s truth? Are you praying about everything that touches your life instead of complaining and arguing? Most importantly, are you a child of God? John 1:12 states, “But to all who did receive him [in their hearts], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Ephesians 3:17a states, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” I can go down so many thought trails, but I will leave you with this encouragement.

The Bible explains how God is the source of wisdom. Therefore, we can ask Him for wisdom. James 1:5-8 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Read my post called Unanswered Prayer? Doubt or Faith to learn more.

Carefully read the next passages and note the things that stand out to you. What do you find significant about each passage?

And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. –1Kings 10:24 (Solomon asked for wisdom.)

With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. – Job 12:13

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 9:23-24

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. – Daniel 1:17

Conclusion:

I pray that you submit to God’s ways and will for your life and that you seek Him for wisdom to know the truth and do what is right in His eyes. I pray that you meditate on God’s word day and night and grow in knowledge and understanding of His will for you. And I pray you will continue to rejoice always, pray about everything, and be thankful in everything, to cultivate godly wisdom in your life.

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 4

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

THE MYSTERY OF WISDOM—PART 2

What is the correlation between wisdom and the fear of God? Can a worldly person who does not fear God be wise? In the last post, we learned that wisdom is a mystery. We also learned that it is better to have wisdom than gold, silver, and jewels and we need to seek it by seeking God because He is the one that gives wisdom. Lastly, we learned the difference between a wise and worldly person.

As I prayed and asked God to give me a greater understanding of wisdom, I saw in scripture that wisdom is linked with the fear of God and understanding. Why? Here are a few scriptures that outline the relationship between wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the fear of God.

First, what is the fear of God?

The fear of the Lord is to have deep respect, love, and awe for God that you want to do the following:

1. Praise Him. Psalms 22:23 states, “You who fear the Lord, praise Him! …glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, …”

2. Serve Him. 1 Samuel 12:24 states, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”

3. Trust Him. Psalms 115:11 also states; “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”

4. Obey Him. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 states, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to keep [obey] the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?”

5. Turn from evil. Proverbs 8:13 states, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” When you sin, you do evil because sin is disobeying God. God commands us to love others as He loves them. Evil people do not love others, but they do and say things to harm or cause trouble for people (Webster

Correlation between fear of God, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

Psalm 111:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” We need to practice, that is do something over and over to become good at it. Understanding means several things. Dictionary.com (2022) says understanding is a mental process of a person who comprehends; has a superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence, etc. Job 28:28 states, “And he [God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [of God]; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And, Psalm 14:1 states, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” Based on these last two verses, a worldly person, who does not fear God, cannot be wise because their hearts are evil and not good. Because Proverbs 9:10-12 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. ¹¹For by me [God] your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

What are the benefits of fearing God?

God’s angel protects you, and you will be blessed, and you will lack nothing. Psalms 34:7-9 states, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9) Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!”
God will help you and shield you from all harm. Psalm 115:11 states, “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.” Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
You will have confidence and you will feel safe. Proverb 14:26 states, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.”
You will have wisdom and know what to do. Psalms 111:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.”
You will have a long life. Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.”
You will have healing. Proverbs 3:7-8 states, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8) It will be healing to your flesh (body; NAS) and refreshment to your bones.”
You will be blessed. Proverbs 28:14 states, “Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity (the pit).”
It will go well with you. 1Samual 12:14 states, “If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well.”
You will have riches, honor, and life. Proverbs 22:4 states, “The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.” Is this something you would like? Read “How Pride Destroys” Pride keeps you from being in awe of God and submitting to His authority and turning from your sin.

Fearing God is easy when you keep your mind focused on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. See the blog post called How do you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? for more details. Job 12:13 states, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.”

Conclusion:

Proverbs 2:1-5 sums up this post, “My son [daughter], if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, ²making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; ³yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, ⁴if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, ⁵then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. The key to getting wisdom is to intentionally seek it. You need the fear of God to have wisdom, understanding, and to know God, but you won’t understand the fear of God and find knowledge until you seek to understand and desire wisdom. Do you fear God by obeying Him and turning from your evil desires (lusts)? Are you praising God and trusting Him to give you wisdom?

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 3

Check out my second book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom-Overview

I have been pondering why we don’t seek wisdom. God’s wisdom is different than the world’s wisdom. Today’s worldly wisdom is upside down. We are told that your sex is not based on reality but on your feelings, and men can menstruate and get pregnant. I feel like I am living in crazy land. How about you? When you try to correct wrong thinking and speak the truth, you are vilified by foolish people. I don’t need to elaborate on the foolishness of worldly wisdom because it is so evident.

My website is about changing false, unhealthy beliefs to experience a new reality. So, what does the Bible say about wisdom? The Bible says a lot about wisdom and being wise. I want to learn more, so as I dig into the Word of God, I will share my findings with you in the next several posts.

The First Mystery – Why Is Wisdom Worth More Than Gold, Silver, and Jewels?

Proverbs 3:13-14 states, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.”

Proverbs 8:10-11 “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”

Proverbs 16:16 states, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

Second Mystery – Why Do We Not Seek Wisdom?

Job 28:12-13 states, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.”

If wisdom and understanding are better than gold, silver, and jewels, then why do we insist on doing things in our own understanding? I must admit that I do not fully understand wisdom. Many verses encourage me to seek out wisdom and gain understanding, but how? I will answer these and many other questions in future posts.

Third Mystery – How do we get wisdom?

The Bible tells us several ways we get wisdom. Here are a few ways.

1Kings 10:24 states, “And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”

Job 28:28 states, “And he [God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

What is the fear of the Lord? What is evil, and how do you turn away from it?

Fourth Mystery – How Do You Know You Are Wise?

James 3:13 states, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness [humility] of wisdom.” Are you humble? I know I fight pride regularly because it is an integral part of our sinful nature.

Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Do you listen to advice from those who are wise and follow it?

Ecclesiastes 10:2 states, “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.” These are the words of King Solomon, the wisest man on earth. How is this verse relevant to today?

Fifth Mystery – What Are The Benefits Of Wisdom?

There are many benefits of wisdom, and I will cover all the verses describing the benefits in future posts. Wisdom finds favor with God and man because the wise person does what is right and has integrity. Someone with wisdom can look at a situation and determine what is right and just from God’s perspective, not a worldly perspective.

Sixth Mystery – What is Wisdom?

The best description of wisdom is found in James 3:13-17, which describes the difference between worldly wisdom and the wisdom from above.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

¹⁵This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice [evil work].

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Wisdom is not being jealous, having selfish ambition, boasting, and being deceitful, which is described as unspiritual and demonic. Yikes! Ask God to search your heart and mind to expose any jealousy, selfish ambition, pride, and deceitful spirits. If God reveals any of these in your heart, then repent and ask God to show you why you have that issue and let Him bring up any repressed memories. I explain how to be free from negative issues in my post called Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul.

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Ponder each characteristic of wisdom. Where do you fall short? I fell short until I resolved the many issues from my traumatic childhood and adult life. Selfish ambition is when you want your way and think it is the best way, and you don’t care about the other person or their needs and desires. You become jealous when someone gets their way and prevents you from getting what you want or expect. Therefore, a person who seeks to be wise is also at peace with themselves and those around them. So, strive to be humble, gentle, and sincerely open to reason and other people’s ideas and desires. I can only imagine what the world would be like if everyone would get rid of their self-centered pride and arrogance, then humbly value others as more important than themselves. A wise person is humble and seeks to do good for others.

Check back to learn more about the mystery of wisdom. In the meantime, I pray that God blesses you richly and that you grow in wisdom and understanding.

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 2

Mystery of Wisdom –Part 3

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 4

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

17 Part 2—Does God Promise to Love Unconditionally?

How often have you heard that God’s love is unconditional? Where does the Bible say this? Some people give vague verses that allude to unconditional love, but nowhere does the Bible state it. This knowledge does not negate the fact that God loves the world and gave His only Son to pay the penalty for our sin so we can be justified by faith and have peace with Him.

Most of God’s promises are conditional; for example, Jeremiah 7:23 states, “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’” When we obey God and walk in His ways, then He will abide with us so that it will be well with us. We can trust that God will always be faithful to us. So, how faithful are you to God? Here are a few verses that show God’s love is conditional on our love, obedience, trust, and forsaking evil.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. ̶̶̶ Deuteronomy 7:9

And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” ̶ Nehemiah 1:5

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” ̶ John 14:23

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. ̶ Psalm 32:10

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:17

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:13

You may say that you love, obey, trust, and fear God. But what are you filling your mind and heart with? Do you keep your mind on the things above by reading your Bible every day and talking with God? Or do you watch ungodly TV shows or movies that act out every evil, immoral thing God hates?

Does God Hate?

Yes, God does hate, as explained in Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, ¹⁹a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Ask God if you are guilty of any of these things He hates. Remember, our hearts are deceitful, as explained in Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV), “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” And Psalm 11:5 states, “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” Someone who is wicked is evil and immoral. Evil people harm others for their own gain because of sin. Also, Proverbs 8:13 states, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Not only are we to turn from doing evil but also watching and enjoying evil and immoral scenes. What kind of books do you like to read? Do the stories you read contain the things God hates? We should hate the same things God hates and avoid filling our minds with such things if we truly love God with all our hearts, soul, strength, and mind. Proverbs 16:6 tells us, “By [God’s] steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” Psalm 34:16 states, “The face of the LORD is against those who do [think] evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

It is evident that God hates evil and all who do evil. The Apostle Peter also wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1Peter 3:12). A righteous person thinks righteous thoughts and does what is good and right. Romans 6:11-13 teaches, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³Do not present your members [mind and soul] to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

If God’s Love is Unconditional, Then Why Does He Have Wrath

One of the hardest topics to teach is God’s wrath, which also counters the notion that God loves us unconditionally. If you disagree with my thinking and beliefs, please comment and let me know, but please use solid scripture to correct my wrong thinking. John 3:36 states, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Saying a salvation prayer does not guarantee eternal salvation, obedience to the end does. Ephesians 5:5-6 states, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Romans 1:18 states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” We are saved from God’s wrath when we believe in His Son and receive the atonement for our sins that Jesus bought. Then we must love and fear God by obeying His commands, turning from evil, and putting our trust in Him. Romans 5:8-9 states, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Conclusion

God’s promises are for everyone. Acts 2:39 states, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” I have shared many promises from the Bible, and I am sure there are many more. We can trust that God never lies. Titus 1:2 states, “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” And we will receive the promised eternal life if we endure to the end and do the will of God (Hebrews 10:36). The mission of this website is to uncover false beliefs and replace them with biblical truth. As much as we want to believe that God has unconditional love, the truth is that He wants our love, obedience, and trust, and to turn from our evil, sinful ways in fear of His wrath.

EVIL—What is it and what is the remedy?

Part 2: How to Overcome Evil with Good.

Are You a Sheep or a Goat?

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share the links with your friends and family, hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected, and no part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book read: How to Fight Unseen Battles

17—Believers Can’t Be Separated from God’s Love

Have you noticed the huge deficit of love in our world? Hate seems to dominate our politics and our families. Why? The answer is simple, Satan kills, steals, and destroys all that God called good. Because God is love, and we are made in His image, we need love in our lives. Satan causes dysfunction, abuse, discord, and separation in families to destroy love. Many of us grew up in homes where love was not shown or if it was shown, it was selfish. As children, we develop the wrong belief that we must earn love or be a certain way to be loved. This false belief affects our view of God’s love for us. We get married, wanting to be loved sacrificially but not knowing how to give sacrificial love. Often, we marry equally wounded people and then pass on our unhealthy beliefs about love to our children. God’s love is perfect.

Trying to grasp how much God loves us is like trying to understand how He made the Universe. God’s love is so vast and immeasurable, yet 1John 4:12 states, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” This post is not about how to love but how we display the love of God to others. I have written many posts on love because love is the holy grail of Christianity. If you are interested to learn more, read LOVE Issues.

Love is why God sent His only Son into the world to die for our sins and to give us liberty from our sinful nature. Ephesians 3:17-19 states, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” How awesome is that? And Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Satan may put wrong thoughts in your mind like, “If God loved you, you wouldn’t be going through this,” or “What kind of Father would let his child go through something this hard?” “God doesn’t love you because you disappoint Him.” When we question God’s love, we can’t trust that He has our best interest in mind. Isaiah 54:10 states, “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.:” God lets us go through hard things, to refine our hearts and strengthen our faith. Read my posts called Being Thankful During Hardships and 2— God Promises to Deliver Us from Our Troubles.

God’s Love Is Everlasting and Steadfast

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:17

In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. ̶̶̶ Isaiah 54:8

The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. ̶̶̶ Jeremiah 31:3

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ̶̶̶ Lamentations 3:22-23

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ̶̶̶ Genesis 39:21

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! ̶̶̶ 1Chronicals 16:34

They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. ̶̶̶ Nehemiah 9:17

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! ̶̶̶ Psalm 25:7

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. ̶̶̶ Psalm 36:5

The English Standard Version records God’s steadfast love in 193 verses. We can trust God’s love has no end. The Apostle John said in 1John 4:8 that “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” How is your love toward those around you? 1John 4:11 states, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” We know we are abiding in God by how we love those around us. 1John 4:16-17 states, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” Never forget that there will be a judgment, and we will have to give an account of all we did while in the flesh, whether good or evil (2Cor. 5:10).

Conclusion

Love is the central theme of God and Christianity. How do you rate on the love scale? Are you patient with everyone? Are you kind to the unkind? Are you gentle with the harsh? Are you self-controlled when tempted? If you struggle with loving others as God loves them, please read my website book; it will help you identify what controls your unloving thoughts and actions. We can trust that nothing will separate us from God’s love, but nowhere in the Bible does it say His love is unconditional. I will explore that truth in my next post.

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Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

16–God Promises to Reward Obedience

It feels good to be rewarded. You get that bonus or raise for your hard work, a party for meeting a goal, and so on. We learned in the last post that God tests us to see if we will obey Him. He also gives rewards for our obedience. According to Dictionary.com (06/30/2022), obedience is being compliant and submitting to the requests of someone in authority. God is the supreme authority. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and so on. God established laws as a boundary for the sinful nature we inherited when Adam disobeyed God’s command to not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.

We have laws in our country to control the self-centered actions of people. For instance, there are many traffic laws we need to obey, and if we don’t, we will suffer a consequence. Many establishments have a code of conduct they expect their employees or customers to follow to maximize a pleasant and safe environment. Otherwise, you have chaos and fear. God’s laws and commands have the same purpose.

Obedience is hard when you want to be self-centered or prideful and don’t think you need to do what someone tells you to do. I had a problem obeying because I did not trust the people in authority. I also struggled to comply because I needed to be in control, which was a trust and pride issue. When I worked through betrayal issues and broke down the betrayal stronghold and the controlling stronghold, I was more willing to obey. To learn more, read Pt. 1: Forsaken? Betrayed? How to Trust Again.

A stronghold is built by wrong beliefs from painful events. Imagine a fort around your body that protects and keeps people from hurting you. 2Corinthians 10:3-5 explains, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Wrong beliefs are opinions raised up against the truths of God. I needed to take my unhealthy thinking from the painful event captive and make it obedient to Jesus’s life of love. I explain this in great detail in my book Breaking Mental Strongholds.

Sometimes you are asked to do something that does not make sense. God the Father planned that His son was to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins, which does not make sense to us. Philippians 2:8 states, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Do you think it is unreasonable for God to require us to be holy? 1Peter 1:14-16 states, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Dictionary.com (6/30/2022) says that holy is to be spiritually pure, godly, and dedicated or devoted to the service of God. God promises to be our helper, so we can depend on Him to help us be holy. To learn more, read Posts About Godliness.

So what are God’s rewards for obedience?

God Promises to Bless Those Who Obey Him

What does it mean to be blessed? Dictionary.com (6/30/2022) says that “blessed” is to be divinely or supremely favored, and favored is to be regarded or treated with preference or partiality and enjoy special advantages. Does this sound like something you would like? The following verses describe how God blesses those who obey and keep His ways:

And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. ‒Proverbs 8:32

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! ‒Psalm 119:2-3

But the one who looks into the perfect law [love], the law of liberty [freedom], and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing [all that you do]. ‒James 1:25

But he says, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ ‒Luke 11:28

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! ‒Psalm 106:3

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. ‒Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. ‒Deuteronomy 12:28

Do you know what God requires of you? Do you obey so you can be blessed?

God Promises Eternal life with Him to Those Who Do His Will

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

1John 2:17 “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

John 14:21 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

The will of God is what He expects us to do, namely, that we love Him with all our strength, heart, mind, and soul (Luke 10:27-28). By obeying His commands, we prove our love for God. John 14:23 states, “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:31 states, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” God also requires that we love others as Jesus loves them. 1John 3:23 states, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

Loving others is hard because we are all sinners and hurt one another. I discuss this in greater detail in my website book. When we obey the truth found in God’s Word, we purify our souls as we obey and forgive those who hurt us and let go of resentment, then we can love from a pure heart. 1Peter 1:22 states, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” To learn more about purifying your heart, read Love from a Pure Heart.

Conclusion

Obedience is difficult if you are self-centered, prideful, or don’t trust those in authority. But it is always best to obey God, not just for the rewards, but because He is good and knows our future and what is best for us. I don’t understand why God asked me to write because I never thought I was a good writer and didn’t know how to write. I obeyed, and I am still writing. I pray you are blessed by my writing and choose to obey God so you will be blessed with divine favor and spend eternity with Him.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

15—God Promises to Test Us

What are God’s tests like? Tests determine what you learned and how you can apply what you know. Do you like tests? I know I don’t because of the possibility that I could fail. How do you pass a test? As a public-school teacher, I would say to listen to what your teacher teaches and take good notes, know all the material in the required reading, and take the time to study your notes and reading material. One time I gave the final exam out to my students to use as a study guide. You know, most of them never studied or bothered to look at my study guide, so many failed. When they found out how easy it would have been to get an “A,” they were upset with themselves for not putting forth an effort to study. God gave us the Bible to study and learn from. Are you reading and meditating about how you can apply God’s teaching to your life?

Do you remember getting your driver’s license? You studied the driving book front to back because if you didn’t know the rules, you would have an accident. You pass the written test, but then you must take the driving test. I must admit, I failed the driving test twice, even though the driving teacher let me use the little car I practiced in. I finally passed using my friend’s colossal chevy. God is merciful and compassionate toward us; even so, He will test us to see if we can apply what we know. Our Christian driving test is through the trials of life to see how we apply the Word of God. Did you pass the first time, or did you have to go through the troubles again before you passed?

What are God’s tests like?

The Bible is your reading material, and your Bible teacher will tell you what to know and study to pass God’s tests. All we need to do is memorize the material in preparation for the test. The following few Bible passages give us an idea of what God tests for. God gives instructions, which He calls a law, command, statutes, judgments, etc., all are recorded in the Bible. He asks that we obey what He tells us to do; if we don’t obey, it is a sin. Not all instructions are for us today; for example, God said that the Israelites were to gather only enough manna to feed their family for that day. Exodus 16:4 states, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.’” But many Israelites did not obey God’s instructions and failed the test. Are you walking according to God’s instructions?

God Tests Our Obedience

Then in Exodus 20:1-17, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. Note all the promises of success that God gives if you obey these commandments. And God spoke all these words, saying, ²I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

(1) ³“You shall have no other gods before me.

(2) ⁴You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ⁵You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

(3) ⁷“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

(4) ⁸“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. ¹¹For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

(5) ¹²“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

(6) ¹³“You shall not murder.

(7) ¹⁴“You shall not commit adultery.

(8) ¹⁵“You shall not steal.

(9) ¹⁶“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

(10) ¹⁷“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Exodus 20:20 states, “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.’” Can you imagine if everyone would obey these ten commandments? Do you think we would have a problem with crime? Jeremiah 9:5-7 describes our present society, “Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. ⁶Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD. ⁷Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do, because of my people?”

God tests our hearts and minds.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. ‒1Chronicals 29:17a

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! ‒Psalm 7:9

Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. ‒ Psalm 26:2

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ¹⁰“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. ‒ Jeremiah 17:9-10

Ask God to search your heart and mind and to show you where you do not love Him or others well. Ask if you are being patient, kind, envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, insisting on your way, irritable, resentful, etc. (1Corinthians 13:4-5). Ask Him to show you where you do not love Him with all your heart and mind (Matthew 22:37).

God Tests Our Faith using Trials.

God uses trials and hardships to test us. 1Peter 4:12 tells us, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” And the passage most Christians know, James 1:2-4, tells us, “Count it all joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” And James 1:12 states, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Will you still love God even when you fail the test and must retake it?

In 2Corinthians 13:5, the Apostle Paul tells us to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! Do you have Jesus’ attitude of looking out for other people’s interests before your own (Philippians 2:4-5)? Are you a servant like Jesus (Philippians 2:7)? Are you willing to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:13)? If you can’t answer “yes” to these questions, then ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive your sins and help you be more like Him.

The end goal of the tests throughout our life is to be like God. Ephesians 4:20-24 states, “But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” We renew our minds through prayer and applying the Word of God to our lives.

Conclusion

This post was a tough post to write, and I could have written more. If you have more to add, please leave a comment and share what you know. God gave us the Bible to study and learn from. Are you reading and meditating about how you can apply God’s teaching to your life? BIBLE means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Rely on the all-powerful and loving God to help you and be with you through the trials of life.

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My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

14—GOD PROMISES TO LEAD US AND BE WITH US

Have you ever wondered where you should live, who you should marry, what job to take, and so on? I have good news, God promises to lead you, “but how,” you might be thinking. Before God can lead you, you need to be sensitive to His leading. When you submit to someone, you are willing to be led by that person. What do you still need to submit to God?

The following scripture reassures us that God leads us:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ̶ Proverbs 3:5-6

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. ̶ Psalm 32:8

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; ²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. ̶ Psalm 37:23-24

It is one thing to hear from God; it is another thing to obey His leading. Be prepared to obey, even if you don’t understand or can’t see why. You are not alone. Abraham did not know why, but he obeyed God’s voice, and God blessed him. Moses heeded the voice of God even though he had no confidence in his ability to speak, so God spoke to Aaron, his brother, to be the voice of Moses. Exodus 4:12 states, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Gideon did not understand why he was chosen to deliver the people from the hand of their enemy, but he obeyed, and God gave Him the victory. Why did God choose these imperfect Bible heroes to be examples of His greatness? Because God wants the glory.

God wants to choose you; will you obey? What will happen if you do not obey God? Psalm 81:11-12 states, “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. ¹²So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.” Do not lean on your understanding but obey so all will be in God’s will. Jeremiah 7:23 states, “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’”

I was facing a layoff and did not have another job lined up. I asked God, what I was to do, and He said, “Write a book.” “What, I don’t know how to write, and I have no idea what to write.” After about two months of waiting on God to know what He wanted me to write about, He said I had already written it. “What????” I pondered what I had already written. The only thing I wrote was a series of Bible studies for the inmates at the county jail. God said that is it. The book was so large that I had to break it into two books. I published the first book, Fighting Unseen Battles” and will soon publish the second book “Breaking Mental Strongholds.”

God directs our steps in many ways. Here are a few biblical examples.

God Will Speak to You Personally

Genesis 12:1 states, “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” The Bible has about 275 verses describing how God (the LORD) spoke to people directly but be careful to test the spirits (James 4:1). God would never tell you to do anything that is not in the Bible. For example, God would not tell you to divorce your spouse.

I was driving, and God clearly spoke to me and said I was to go to Radio Shack. I didn’t know why and didn’t have any reason to go to Radio Shack, so I drove by. God spoke to me again, telling me to go to Radio Shack. So I turned around and went to the store. I didn’t know why God told me to go to Radio Shack, so I began talking with the salespeople when a customer came up and said he needed a UNIX programmer to do some work for him. I happened to know UNIX, and I happened to need trade experience to finish getting my degree to teach computer science/data processing. There you have it, God knew that man would be in the store at that time, and He directed my steps.

God May Use Someone to Tell You

Maybe even an angel will speak to you, as with Abraham, Daniel, Zachariah, Mary, and Joseph. The English Standard Bible (e-sword) records 63 instances of an angel speaking to someone. God used prophets to speak to people. The ESV Bible had approximately 56 verses when a prophet spoke God’s message. The Bible has many examples of when God led people to talk to someone. Abigail came to my mind when she went to David to dissuade him from killing her husband (1Samuel 25).

When I became a single mother and didn’t have a job, I asked God what I was to do to support myself. My heart’s desire was to be a stay-at-home mother. My friend suggested that I become a seamstress and do sewing for people. I advertised and had no trouble getting enough customers to pay my bills and keep my children at home with me. I believe God spoke through my friend.

He May Speak to You in a Vision or a Dream

Genesis 15:1 states, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Also, Numbers 12:6 states, “And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.” And Job 33:14-15 states, “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. ¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds.” Pay attention to dreams, especially dreams you remember. Keep a notebook by your bed so you can record them.

He Directs Us Through Circumstances

God used many different circumstances in Jesus’s life to fulfill prophetic scriptures. God also used many events to get me where I am. God used Joseph’s brothers to sell him to traders, who then sold him as an enslaved person. He then ended up in jail for several years because an evil woman lied. In prison, he meets two men who had dreams, and he interprets the dreams. He interpreted dreams for Pharaoh, who then made him second in command. All those circumstances prepared Joseph for his purpose, which was to save his family. He had to endure many hardships to get to where God wanted him to be. We, too, will have to go through problems. We will never know the impact on our lives and the lives of others because of the decisions other people, or we make.

When we follow God’s leading, we will be in His will, though we may have to go through tough times to grow in our faith. Isaiah 43:2 states, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” And Isaiah 41:10 states, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Conclusion

Are you willing to submit to God’s leading and obey His commands? Be ready to hear God speak to you directly, through someone else, or in your dreams. Be willing to allow the situations in your life, even difficult circumstances to move you in the direction God wants you to go. Both times I was laid off, I wrote a book. I don’t know why, and I don’t know how God will use them, but it is all for His glory.

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If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

13—Part 2—God’s Promise to Heal

The previous post explained the many ways that God heals. He heals with natural remedies and medicine (i.e., Isaiah said to use a fig poultice to bring healing, Jeremiah said to take balm for healing, and Ezekiel said leaves were for our healing.) I explained how we become ill because of what we put into our bodies, and if we return to God’s wellness plan, we will naturally heal many of our illnesses. Then I describe how emotional healing leads to physical healing, which I explain in my book on my website. Next, I discussed the power of regular detoxing to remove the toxins that cause disease. After that, I shared the Bible verses that show how evil spirits cause physical problems, and I ended with Bible passages about how faith brings our healing.

Let’s continue with how faith brings our healing. There are two types of faith, personal faith and the faith of others; both are needed. Hope is central to faith. God’s promises give us hope. My ministry name is “Hope for Complete Healing.” Complete healing includes spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical, which are all interrelated.

• Spiritual healing is to be reconciled to God by believing He sent His son to save us from our sins and His wrath on sin. The evidence of being spiritually healed is humility, love for others, desiring to read your Bible, and going to church.

• Mental healing happens when you set your mind on God’s truths and promises through prayer and meditating on the Bible morning and night. If you are mentally ill with depression, paranoia, or anxiety, it will negatively affect your spiritual, emotional, and physical health. In my experience, the more spiritually healthy I became, the more mentally healthy I became. If your mind is not submitted to God’s truths, then Satan will interject his lies, accusations, and temptations into your mind. This is why we need to take up the shield of faith every day. You can learn more about this in my post called Spiritual Warfare 6: HOW FAITH OFFERS FULL PROTECTION

• Emotional healing takes place through forgiveness. Forgiveness from God for our sins removes guilt and shame. Forgiving others their sins against us removes resentment, anger, hate, bitterness, and so on. Emotionally healthy people can handle disappointment well and love difficult people well. They are not easily offended.

• Physical healing is when all the systems of your body are functioning as God intended them to work. Understand we live in a fallen world, and we will eventually die through the aging process, which is when our body’s systems gradually become weak, until the day they stop functioning, and we die. But you can still remain in good health.

Based on my experience, physical healing takes place when we obey God’s commands, which are explained in detail in the previous post and summarized below:

Eat according to God’s instructions in Genesis 1:29 and 9:3.
Forgive those who sinned against us to remove the emotional cancer of resentment (Colossians 3:13). My theme verse for my book and website is 3John 2, which states, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” Resentment causes emotional dis-ease in our souls.
Don’t worry and be anxious (Philippians 4:6-7).
Fast to speed healing (Isaiah 58:6-8) because fasting removes many kinds of toxins that causes illnesses.
Command unclean evil spirits of infirmity and disability to be gone (Mark 9:14-29; Luke 13:11-13; and Acts 5:16).
Repent of sins and seek to be anointed by oil and the prayers of elders who have faith (Psalm 38:3 and James 5:14-15).
Fear God and turn from evil (harming someone) and submit to God’s instructions (Proverbs 3:7-9).
Believe that God wants to heal you (Hebrews 11:1; Matthew 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28; and Luke 17:19).

Faith Reminds God of His Promises

Faith believes we will receive the things we hope for and the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith claims the promises of God and reminds God of His goodness, faithfulness, and lovingkindness. We can also remind God of His promises, such as Psalm 103:3b, which tells us God heals all our diseases, and Psalm 34:19 says that the righteous will suffer afflictions, but God will deliver them out of all of their troubles. The problem is that God’s timing is not our timing, so we need faith. For instance, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but they had to wait 15 years before the promise was fulfilled. Romans 8:25 states, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” It is hard to wait, isn’t it?

Hope to Experience God’s Promise to Heal

Hope is a challenging topic. Many people feel hopeless because they cannot see how their situation can improve. Despair is the one unseen battle that leads many people to commit suicide. Because everyone goes through hardships, we need the hope Jeremiah describes in Lamentations 3:21–25:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

²²The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

²⁴“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Jeremiah suffered hardships his entire life and learned to put his hope in God’s steadfast (firm, fixed, constant; not changing) love, mercies, and faithfulness.

We know that this life on earth is but a blink of an eye, and then God’s children will spend eternity in heaven. Knowing this fact helps me endure my troubles. Romans 8:18 states, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” And 2Corinthians 4:17–18 states, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” So, are you focused on your troubles or the eternal glory? Read HOPE: How it Motivates and Inspires BUT God’s Sovereignty… to discover more about hope.

Faith Speaks God’s Promises into Existence

I believed, therefore, I have spoken. –Psalm 116:10a

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak. –2Corinthians 4:13

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare [proclaim]; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. –Isaiah 42:9

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. –Isaiah 43:18–19

God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. –Romans 4:17b

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. –Psalm 30:2

Jesus in Us is the Power of God to Heal

The Bible says in several places that Jesus not only bore our sins so we can be free from the power of sin, but He also bore our sickness so we could be healed. Matthew 8:17 states, “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.’” Isaiah 53:5 prophesy, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Also, the Apostle Peter tells us in 1Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Conclusion

Faith is the key to complete healing because faith gives us hope and helps us believe. God is the one who heals us when we put our faith in Him. Physicians may reverse or cover up symptoms of illness. Surgery or medication may correct damage due to living in a fallen world, but it is God who heals completely. God gives physicians and nurses wisdom and knowledge, and you need to heed their advice, but first make sure you are obeying all of God’s commands. I conclude with my ministry verse: 3John 2, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” Is all well with your soul?

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book read: How to Fight Unseen Battles

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.