Wayne Stiles's Blog, page 61
June 13, 2016
Christians Struggling with Sin and 4 Lies We Believe
In more ways than one, the truth will set you free.
Everybody sins. But when Christians do it, reactions vary. The culture says we’re hypocrites—and often uses our sin to justify their own. Other Christians may view our sins as proof we aren’t even saved.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash)
But the people who offer the most brutal judgment against our sins?
Very often, it’s ourselves.
That’s because Christians struggling with sin tend to believe these four lies.
Keep reading this post. Better stil...
June 10, 2016
Surrendering Your Will to God in Difficult Times
How this decision is the only path to peace.
I have discovered that the most difficult battles in life simply mirror Jesus’ struggle in Gethsemane. His words to the Father remain the most challenging words we could utter:
Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. —Luke 22:42
(Photo: Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus surrendered His will. Courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands.)
Surrendering your will to God in difficult times is often harde...
June 8, 2016
The Jordan River—Your Place of Transition
What served as a border also represents a bridge to your new life.
Other rivers have more beauty. Many are much longer. Most are far cleaner. But no river has garnered as much affection as the Jordan River. There’s a good reason.
(Photo: The Jordan River, courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
It wasn’t the beauty of the Jordan River that inspired centuries of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to include it in their verses.
Its significance began as a simple geographic barrier, wh...
June 6, 2016
The Ideal Life You Want Isn’t Enough
That's why God gives you what you need before what you want.
Most people live for dreams. It’s a quest, really. Clinging to ideals of how life could and “should” be, they chase those dreams like a carrot on a stick. Always within reach, but never gotten.
(Photo by Photodune)
I guess we’re all wired to pursue the ideal. The world calls it following “your heart,” and we Christians refer to it as “the will of God.” But in truth, we generally settle for nothing less than our version of how life o...
June 3, 2016
How to Struggle with God and Win
Jacob's brawl at the Jabbok River gives a model of how to do it.
What does it take for God to change you? In the Bible, when the Lord changed Jacob, it took a brawl. Isn’t it often the same with us?
(Photo via Vivozoom)
These times we struggle with the Father represent His grace, I believe. It’s never easy, and it often seems rigged in God’s favor.
But Jacob shows us how to win the struggle.
Keep reading this post. Better still, get my full posts the easy way when you SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG. W...
June 1, 2016
The Daniel Prayer: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations [Book]
The Daniel Prayer: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations by Anne Graham Lotz (Zondervan, 2016) I really enjoyed
The Daniel Prayer
. Anne Graham Lotz uses principles from the prophet Daniel’s prayer in the book that bears his name. Daniel confesses his sins and the sins of his nation—and asked God to have mercy. All of the sections of Anne’s book are peppered with personal stories that both inspire and urge us to pray. I especially appreciate her vulnerability and a...
The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book [Book]
The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book by David Jeremiah (Thomas Nelson, 2016) In
The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book
, Dr. David Jeremiah reminds us that the Christian life is a battlefield. Our battle is not with the culture or with those who do not believe in God but with an enemy unseen and powerful. Using a question-and-answer format, Dr. Jeremiah answers 75 questions pertinent to spiritual warfare. Each question forms a short chapter with answers rooted in scripture and pr...
The NKJV Study Bible, Personal Size, Paperback: Full-Color Edition [Book]
The NKJV Study Bible, Personal Size, Paperback: Full-Color Edition by GOD (Thomas Nelson, 2016) I love reading the New King James Version of the Bible (NKJV), but not until getting this study Bible did I realize why. The scholarship behind this Bible is simply phenomenal. As I read the names of the contributors, it made me want to study the notes again. An outstanding group of scholars whose words and theology can be trusted. This edition of the NKJV Study Bible is a “Pe...
Google Street View of 6 Biblical Sites
Walk around in the Holy Land without leaving home.
Google Maps Street View serves us well with directions, helping us to see what the turns in our journey actually look like. But the Web site also allows a virtual peek at some key biblical sites.
There’s nothing like traveling to Israel to see the land of the Bible firsthand. Experiencing the Bible with all your senses is an unforgettable way to learn it. You’ll never be the same.
But until your first (or next) trip, you might enjoy a virtua...
May 30, 2016
How to Stay Alert to Your Evil Adversary
There are essentials we must keep in mind in order to stand firm.
You have an enemy. No, it’s not that other political party. It’s not your boss. It’s certainly not your spouse. I’m not even talking about terrorists. I’m talking about an adversary you can’t see.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash)
He’s hidden, but there, just biding his time until he can take you out. The Apostle Peter reveals his identify:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring l...
