June 24, 2024 Finding Confidence That God Is WorkingKAYLA FERRIS Lee en español "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." Daniel 6:10 (ESV) I'm discovering that self-confidence is a fickle friend. Sometimes I have it; sometimes I don't. Sometimes it serves me well; other times, it misguides me. Confidence in myself is unreliable because, honestly, so am I. Culture tells me I should invest in myself further, love myself better and believe in myself more. Those aren't inherently bad ideas ... but the results are inconsistent. There has to be a better solution than me having greater faith in me. And thankfully there is. Because, friend, what I truly need is God-confidence. Trusting in God's ability, faithfulness and love changes everything. God-confidence means I look to Him first, not myself. It means He fuels my faith (Hebrews 11:1), He quenches my fears (Psalm 27:1), and He alone stands unshakeable (Matthew 7:25). Perhaps no one knew this better than a man named Daniel in the Bible. Attempting to conspire against Daniel, Persian officials decreed it illegal to pray. The penalty? The offender would become lion food. But Daniel 6:10 says, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." Amazing. Daniel didn't wring his hands, wondering what he should do. He had complete confidence that God was at work in the situation, and no matter the outcome, he would continue trusting God. We, too, can develop that level of confidence by growing in two areas that shaped Daniel's entire life - knowing God and experiencing God. Like Daniel, we can increase our knowledge of God. Daniel was constantly praying and studying God's Word (Daniel 6:10; Daniel 9:2). The more we know about God, the more our confidence grows. Reading about God's character strengthens our trust. Declaring God's goodness builds our belief. We can soak our hearts and minds in His unshakeable Truth. We can also experience God at work. Daniel personally witnessed God's faithfulness, saw friends saved from a fiery furnace, and was held by God through worldly power struggles (Daniel 1:9; Daniel 3:26; Daniel 5:29-30). We can trust God enough to step into situations we feel called toward but don't necessarily feel capable of navigating on our own. In places where we most need God, we experience Him at work, and our confidence in Him increases exponentially. Knowledge and experience grow our God-confidence. And that kind of confidence will never fail us. God, You are powerful, faithful, loving and true. I want to build my confidence in You. Guide me toward the knowledge and experience I need to grow a God-confidence that will never fail, no matter what life throws my way. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS We know faith requires trust, but sometimes don't we just want proof? When we haven't seen God move in our lives in a while, it's tempting to wonder if He's really there or whether He hears our prayers. If you've been in this place recently, our new study is just for you - Daniel: Finding Confidence That God's Power Is at Work. As we study Daniel together, we'll discover just how capable the Lord is and how much careful attention He gives to everything in our lives, both big and small. Get your study guide today! ENGAGE To connect with Kayla Ferris and see what God has been teaching her, you can check out her website at www.manna2go.com or find her on Instagram @kayla.j.ferris. FOR DEEPER STUDY Jeremiah 17:7, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him" (NIV). Daniel 6:27, "[God] delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions" (ESV). What is one area of your life where you would like to increase your confidence that God is present and working? How might you do this through knowledge and experience? Share with us in the comments! © 2024 by Kayla Ferris. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Finding Confidence That God Is Working – Encouragement for Today – June 24, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for Deciding Whether to Leave Your Current Church or StayBy Chris Eyte “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” – Matthew 16:16-20 The choice of food shops in the city near where I live is countless. Large supermarkets offer everything from green beans shipped over from the other side of the world to exotic curry mixes. I like to visit the smaller food stores, too, because you can get eat-me items you simply don't get anywhere else – massive watermelons, big cans of vine leaves, and nut cakes perfect for birthdays. As a consumer, as long as money is in the bank, I can choose and choose and buy and buy. It's a problem, though, if I bring that ‘choice' attitude to my church fellowship. Perhaps we can all struggle with this consumerist mentality at times. Are the leaders dressed appropriately and always smiling? Was the worship ‘good'? Did the preacher give a good resounding message, ‘getting into the word'? Is the Sunday School properly organized? Was it all too noisy or too quiet? And this is a common complaint: did anyone talk to me at church today? If we start hitting negative notes in our expectations of church, we start to find reasons to leave. That can be a danger – if it does not meet our own expectations, not the Lord's will. It's like going to a concert or theatrical performance where everything needs to work seamlessly. If it doesn't, we are tempted to ditch the ‘show' and be entertained elsewhere. The first question to ask, though, is why we go to church in the first place. It can't be just about the music, or a good sermon, or whether people smile at you, or the quality of the coffee in the little paper cups after the main meeting. You could be doing anything on a Sunday. Why take time out to ‘go' to a church building? What made you go there in the first place? In the passage above, the Lord talks about building his church. Is your fellowship, despite its faults, built with a firm foundation in Jesus? Surely, what draws us to a Christian community isn't the music, positive messages, or coffee. It is the reality of living as a body of people belonging to the Holy Spirit and enjoying him for who he is.  Secondly, are we humble enough to be bricks in the church that Jesus is building? Or do we have a personal agenda that does not submit to him? Church communities need people who are content to be actively part of the overall whole in God. A brick has an important part in constructing a building but its purpose is only served in humility, in relationship with the other bricks around it. Lastly, if we do want to move to another church, seriously consider this: is the reason spiritual or worldly? Churchgoers can act like sheep, moving from one place to another. As before, why did we go to church in the first place? Because it's important to Jesus that brothers and sisters in him dwell together in harmony (Psalm 133:1). Church isn't another sports club or hobby group. It's a community of Holy Spirit-fired followers of Jesus who are fully aware of spiritual warfare and are determined to live consecrated lives as the body of Christ. That doesn't mean we can't move to another church. But we need to be clearly guided by the Holy Spirit to ensure that this serves his purposes, not our own. Sometimes, we get moved to another part of the battlefield, and that's okay. But at all times, we are called to forget ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. And that applies to our lives in Christian communities, not just privately. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you that I have the awesome privilege of being a living brick in your building. It is truly amazing that you have called me to be a part of your body and given me the responsibility to look out for others. All my needs are met within you alone and I am excited to be on this journey of helping to construct your kingdom. I ask for wisdom and insight to know that I am in the right place at this time, doing what you want me to do. Help me to be active as a church member, a blessing to my leaders, and a great support to those around me. In your precious name. Amen! Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Sean824 Christopher Eyte lives with his wife Céline and three children in Swansea, Wales, UK. He has worked as a journalist for many years and writes his own blog (hislovefrees.life) encouraging others in their walk with Jesus. He became a Christian in February 2002, after a friend explained God’s amazing grace! Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week, she gives you practical, real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day, click below! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Deciding Whether to Leave Your Current Church – Your Daily Prayer – June 24 appeared first on GodUpdates.

June 24, 2024 Finding Confidence That God Is WorkingKAYLA FERRIS Lee en español "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." Daniel 6:10 (ESV) I'm discovering that self-confidence is a fickle friend. Sometimes I have it; sometimes I don't. Sometimes it serves me well; other times, it misguides me. Confidence in myself is unreliable because, honestly, so am I. Culture tells me I should invest in myself further, love myself better and believe in myself more. Those aren't inherently bad ideas ... but the results are inconsistent. There has to be a better solution than me having greater faith in me. And thankfully there is. Because, friend, what I truly need is God-confidence. Trusting in God's ability, faithfulness and love changes everything. God-confidence means I look to Him first, not myself. It means He fuels my faith (Hebrews 11:1), He quenches my fears (Psalm 27:1), and He alone stands unshakeable (Matthew 7:25). Perhaps no one knew this better than a man named Daniel in the Bible. Attempting to conspire against Daniel, Persian officials decreed it illegal to pray. The penalty? The offender would become lion food. But Daniel 6:10 says, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." Amazing. Daniel didn't wring his hands, wondering what he should do. He had complete confidence that God was at work in the situation, and no matter the outcome, he would continue trusting God. We, too, can develop that level of confidence by growing in two areas that shaped Daniel's entire life - knowing God and experiencing God. Like Daniel, we can increase our knowledge of God. Daniel was constantly praying and studying God's Word (Daniel 6:10; Daniel 9:2). The more we know about God, the more our confidence grows. Reading about God's character strengthens our trust. Declaring God's goodness builds our belief. We can soak our hearts and minds in His unshakeable Truth. We can also experience God at work. Daniel personally witnessed God's faithfulness, saw friends saved from a fiery furnace, and was held by God through worldly power struggles (Daniel 1:9; Daniel 3:26; Daniel 5:29-30). We can trust God enough to step into situations we feel called toward but don't necessarily feel capable of navigating on our own. In places where we most need God, we experience Him at work, and our confidence in Him increases exponentially. Knowledge and experience grow our God-confidence. And that kind of confidence will never fail us. God, You are powerful, faithful, loving and true. I want to build my confidence in You. Guide me toward the knowledge and experience I need to grow a God-confidence that will never fail, no matter what life throws my way. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS We know faith requires trust, but sometimes don't we just want proof? When we haven't seen God move in our lives in a while, it's tempting to wonder if He's really there or whether He hears our prayers. If you've been in this place recently, our new study is just for you - Daniel: Finding Confidence That God's Power Is at Work. As we study Daniel together, we'll discover just how capable the Lord is and how much careful attention He gives to everything in our lives, both big and small. Get your study guide today! ENGAGE To connect with Kayla Ferris and see what God has been teaching her, you can check out her website at www.manna2go.com or find her on Instagram @kayla.j.ferris. FOR DEEPER STUDY Jeremiah 17:7, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him" (NIV). Daniel 6:27, "[God] delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions" (ESV). What is one area of your life where you would like to increase your confidence that God is present and working? How might you do this through knowledge and experience? Share with us in the comments! © 2024 by Kayla Ferris. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Finding Confidence That God Is Working – Encouragement for Today – June 24, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1396 - Crusaders under Earl of Nevers reach Vienna 1664 - Colony of New Jersey founded when Duke of York grants Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret ownership of land between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers 1692 - Kingston, Jamaica, founded after Port Royal at mouth of the harbour destroyed by an earthquake 1750 - Jesuit priest hold first mass in The Little Chapel in Tadoussac, New France (built 1747, now the oldest surviving church in North America) 1843 - Vincenzo Soliva decrees no Jew can live outside a ghetto in Italy 1900 - Dutch Social-Democratic Workers' party and Socialistenbond merge 1953 - KSWS (now KOBR) TV channel 8 in Roswell, NM (NBC) begins broadcasting 1974 - India is dismissed for 42 in 17 overs in 2nd Test defeat to England at Lord's; lowest total in country's Test cricket history; Chris Old 5-21, Geoff Arnold 4-19 1986 - Guy Hunt elected 1st Republican governor of Alabama in 112 years 1989 - Jiang Zemin appointed the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1946 - Georges Bidault elected premier of France 1948 - Soviet Union begins the West Berlin Blockade by stopping access by road, rail and water 1960 - 10th Berlin International Film Festival: "El Lazarillo de Tormes" wins Golden Bear 1961 - Tony Sheridan, backed by the Beatles, records "If You Love Me Baby" (aka "Take Out Some Insurance On Me, Baby") in Hamburg, Germany 1968 - LPGA Championship Women's Golf, Pleasant Valley CC: Canadian Sandra Post wins an 18-hole playoff against Kathy Whitworth by 7 strokes 2019 - Greek Cypriot army officer Nicos Metaxas given seven life sentences for the murder of five women and two children in Nicosia More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1343 - Jeanne de Valois, Queen of Navarre, born in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, France (d. 1373) 1848 - Brooks Adams, American philosopher (Theory of Social Revolutions), born in Quincy, Massachusetts (d. 1927) 1870 - Horatio Mbelle, South African interpreter, community leader and politician, born in Burgersdorp, Cape Colony (d. 1947) 1906 - Pierre Fournier, French cellist, and teacher (Paris Conservatoire, 1937-49), born in Paris, France (d. 1986) 1965 - Uwe Krupp, NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1986-2003 (2 x All- Star; 2 x Stanley Cup; Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, and 3 other teams; Olympics. 1998 (Germany)), and European coach, born in Cologne, Germany 1982 - Jarret Stoll, Canadian ice hockey player More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1952 - Lodewijk Mortelmans, Belgian composer (Morgenstemming - Morning Mood), dies at 84 1978 - Robert Charroux, French writer (b. 1909) 1993 - Archie Williams, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1936), dies of a heart attack at 78 1995 - Inshan Ali, West Indian cricketer (WI chinaman bowler 1971-77), dies at 45 2007 - Chris Benoit, Canadian professional wrestler (b. 1967) 2023 - Ian Browne, Australian track cyclist (Olympic gold 2000m tandem 1956 [with Tony Marchant], dies at 92 More Famous Deaths »

Including Massive Wagons, Bones UK, Orange Goblin and five other movers, groovers, shakers and quakers

If you use your time wisely, there will be no wasted time in your life. But if you just sit around and complain that it's taking too long to get where you want to go, you will waste time.

Sometimes, we get moved to another part of the battlefield, and that’s okay. But at all times, we are called to forget ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. And that applies to our lives in Christian communities, not just privately.