“Why Am I Still Struggling With Sin As a Believer?”

Romans 3:23 is arguably one of the most quoted Scriptures from the Bible. It states, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” The law was God’s glorious standard, and it sadly exposed how sinful we are as a people.

God already knew we were going to sin so He provided a means of making us right with Him. Romans 3:25-26 highlights, “For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…for He was looking ahead...God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”

Knowing this information, it saddens me when people use Romans 3:23 to justify their sinful practices and shortcomings when the Apostle Paul was merely highlighting the innate human condition that requires God’s grace.

We did nothing to deserve God’s grace and God requires so little on our part. He just wants our faith. Romans 3:31 states, “In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.”

Why does God care about our faith so much? Well, we need a biblical understanding of faith. Hebrews 11:1 points out, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The reason why we as believers tend to start struggling with sin is that our faith tends to deteriorate over time as the stresses of life set in. The distractions take our spiritual eyes off of Jesus and we put our natural eyes on what we can see.

Faith is the core of our walk with Christ and God wants us to understand how much He loves. Faith is important because the God’s plan for your life is better than anything that we could ever come up with for our own life. And if you haven’t noticed already, when you try to control your own life and it doesn’t tend to have the best results.

The other reason why faith is important is because we are ambassadors of Christ. Whether you know it or not, you represent the Kingdom of God. People are looking at your actions and some are even curious to see if what they say about God is true.

I heard a pastor recently state that biblical faith means, “There is observable evidence in your actions that leads people to believe that you believe in what God said.”

Is there observable evidence in your actions that would lead people to believe that you believe in what God said? If not, then the root of your struggle with sin is truly your faith. But, don’t give up. Every day you’re alive is another day to improve in the area of faith.

Here are 3 questions you should ask yourself to figure out how to improve.

1.) Do I Know What God Says?

The first part of Hebrews 11:1 points out there there should be something hoped for as a part of our faith. How can you know what to look forward to if you don’t know what God’s Word says? God’s promises are what we have to look forward to in this life and in heaven. The reason why some believers may struggle is because they don’t know enough of God’s promises and have nothing to cling on to when the enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy aspect of your life.

Start Here:

• Read the Bible - Find a translation you can understand and start off small by reading the Book John or Acts.

• Reduce Media Consumption - The biggest distraction in this generation is media consumptions. There are so many voices distracting people from God’s voice. Get clear by reducing social media usage or limiting the amount of streaming you do on a regular basis.

• Writing Down Thoughts And Questions - We have so many thoughts and ideas. It is important to capture it on paper. Sometimes when we capture it on paper we can better discern if it is a message or thought from God versus ourselves.

2.) Do You Believe in What God Said?

Once you figure out what God said, it is important to determine whether you believe it or not. Test and trials will come to prove whether you believe it, in fact. If it is in your best interest hide God’s Word in your heart by memorizing Scriptures that support you in each type of situation in life such as fear, grief, accomplishments, trials, tribulations, etc.

3.) Do My Actions Line Up With My Faith and Belief In God?

Actions are going to speak louder than words. If you find that your actions do not align with Bible truths or with the faith that you say you have in Jesus Christ, then this is an area that needs work. Thankfully and consequently, God will send tests in the areas in your life that needs the most work. So, do not be surprised if you repeated encounter circumstances where different people or the specific person trigger you. Do not be surprised if your have an event that challenges your faith. These are opportunities to show yourself approved.

How Do I Find My Purpose? (2024)

In 2020, the world locked down and I was at home for 6 months! To be honest, I needed the break. I didn’t feel fulfilled at work, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. I figured that I would use the extra time to try to figure out my purpose and quickly became overwhelmed after listening to a ton of thought leaders.

One random night, I laid down exhausted from the search and finally asked God about it and guess what? He answered me through a dream! I was so excited, but you see, He didn’t give me all the details in one dream. (I wish!) Over time, as my relationship with God became closer, He slowly revealed more and more details about my purpose.

Thought leaders and self-proclaimed gurus will say that you can find the answer within. However, if you want to find the answer to the most important question of your life, then you have to go to your Maker.

Genesis 1:27 states “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Not only did God create you, but he also has a plan and purpose for you. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You can continue doing life as you please or follow the ways of the world, but I believe you will always have a longing to know what you were truly created to do.

Ask yourself this: Do I feel at peace with what I’m currently doing in life? If the answer is no, it is worth reaching out to God to ask Him about you.

It sounds simple because it really is that simple. I wish I could tell you that I did something fancy. However, I got away from the noise and out of a sincere heart I inquired with God through prayer about my purpose and He responded.

Matthew 7:7-8 states, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

It is worth going to God about it in prayer today. If you do not receive an immediate response, be persistent.

It is important to emphasize that it is necessary to form a relationship with God. You cannot bypass this step. As I stated early on, God only reveals his plan of your life over time. We can’t just get part of Word from God about our purpose then walk away. I can promise you it will not work out well in the end. We must remain in Him as will do the things He’s called us to do.

John 15:4 states, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” God wants us to be fruitful and fulfill His plans that He has for us, but we have to be willing to be stay with Him. Not get ahead nor behind.

In time, you will find out God’s purpose for your life and how it aligns with His will.

Need some more help? Here is my top book recommendation for this topic:

Book Recommendation —

The Purpose Drive Life by Rick Warren

“This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life’s most important question: What on earth am I here for? By the end of this journey you will know God’s purpose for your life and will understand the big picture — how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity.” (Statement from Rick Warren on Amazon Book Store)

4 Biblical Financial Principles To Apply To Your Life In 2024

The Bible has been around for thousands of years and is still relevant especially when it comes to financial principles. As believers, we should be locating and applying those financial principles to our lives.

It is so easy to get caught up in the world’s principles when it comes to money because we are exposed to it so much through media. However, we called to move differently than the ways of the world. Romans 12:2 (NLT) states, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

As you move away from financial behaviors that mimic the world, you may find that God really begins to bless your finances.

Remember, there should never be a time in your life where money is more important to you than serving God. Mark 6:24 (NIV) says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” It important to make sure your actions support that.

The best way to ensure you know how to handle your finances is through knowing what God’s Word says about it. Below, is a list of financial principles supported by the Bible that you should apply to your life.

1 — Tithing

This comes as no surprise. Tithing is an essential part of your spiritual journey. In Leviticus 27:30 (NIV), “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” I know a lot of believers are hesitant to set aside one-tenth of their income because they feel like it could go towards something “more important.” However, giving to God is important. God gives generously and He expects us to do the same. He asks us for so little. Just one-tenth of the first of the income that He blessed you with. I will say that you shouldn’t take this step us your heart isn’t in it. God is always evaluating our hearts. If you feel in an ounce of reluctance, maybe take a step and assess what’s really holding you back. If you haven’t started tithing or may be you stopped tithing, pray for God to help get you to the point of cheerfully tithes. There are many blessings on the other side.

2 — Importance of Paying Off Debt

Boy, there are a lot of beliefs surrounding debt. Not all of them are biblical. I’ve met people who find it totally acceptable to stay in debt all their life and others who believe in accumulating without paying it off. Psalms 37:21 highlights the difference between godly and wicked financial practices stating, “The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.” It is ungodly to borrow without every repaying your debt. In fact, it is one of the biggest ways believers stay financial bound and there is no way that God wants that for us. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." As long as you are in debt, you will be at the mercy of people who care nothing about your well-being. It is sad, but true. If you are taking a look at your finances and identify this as an issue in your life, it may be time for you to start taking steps towards being debt free.

3 — Never Love Money and Don’t Be Eager Either

There is this myth going around that being rich is the root of all evil. I am not sure who started the rumor, but that’s not biblical. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” You will have seen many celebrities sadly losing their life over chasing money. There may be people around you that follow a similar trend. You may say to yourself that love is strong word and you don’t feel that way. I will say that a lot of us are eager. I heard a pastor say something really enlightening one Sunday. He said if we trusted God like the way we trusted our employees paying on us payday, then a lot of us would be in a better place in God. Most of us start making plans about what we plan to do with the money before payday. Being too eager can cause some many problems. Shift your focus off the money and unto God.

4 — Financial Discipline

I don’t think this gets preached enough, but discipline is the key to success. Proverbs 13:18 states, “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” As you learn lessons when it comes to finances, start shifting behavior to correct it. Most of our parents have done a poor job in extending financial literacy. That’s okay. We can’t go back in time, but life teaches us the lesson. As you see mistakes, straighten up behaviors. Delayed gratification seems to be a struggle for people in my generations including me. I’ve had to take a break from buying non essential items. It is hard, but it is a sacrifice in the short term that will get me a better position in the future. There are going to be certain lifestyle adjustments that are going to need to be made in your life too. Be open to those financial disciplines because it will better your life rather than hinder it.

Why Small Groups Are Important For Your Growth in Christ?

Jesus had twelve disciples, but I find it interesting that He only took a small group with Him to one of the biggest events in the Bible, The Transfiguration (Matthew 17).

The Transfiguration was a pivotal moment in the Bible where three disciples had the opportunity to get a glimpse of heavenly radiance and glory during Jesus’ appearance transformation. Peter, John, and James were all present during the Transfiguration.

I do not believe it was a coincidence Peter, John, and James were present at this monumental moment considering they had walked with Jesus the longest.

Although it was not said, the stories in the New Testament alluded to the three men being a part of Jesus’ “inner circle.” The Transfiguration and the events leading up to the event gives us a great bit of insight into the necessity of having an “inner circle” or better yet a small group.

First, small groups provide an environment for intimacy, meaning true friendship and closeness with those in the group. Peter, John, and James were the first of the disciples to drop everything and follow Jesus. The time they spent as a small group cultivated a deep level of trust and faith over time.

Often when reading the Bible, people tend to forget how human the people were in the stories. The disciples probably had an array of feelings and thoughts going through their heads. The beautiful part of the story is that as much as Jesus was their Savior, He was also a friend.

Jesus showed us true friendship and the great returns of walking with Him faithfully. Peter, John, and James had no idea what was in store for them. Their long time devotion to Jesus and the group led them to an unimaginable showcase of God’s glory.

Small groups bring a level of intimacy not just for people in the group, but God as well. It gives believers a greater revelation of the nature of God’s glory and it comes in the most unexpected ways.

Second, there is no better embodiment of the scripture, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV) than having a small group that centers around Christ.

There is something that is powerful about community and harmony. Jesus was actually explaining how to handle conflicts with other believers before this Scripture about gathering in His name.

Jesus knew that being a believer would involve a level of conflict (we’re human), and I believe he was stressing the importance of agreement especially in prayer. Matthew 18:19 states, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

It is no secret that being a believer in Christ involves trials and tribulations. It can often being hard to overcome it ourselves. Jesus was saying that if you just get one or two more people to stand in agreement with you about request you want to submit to Him, it will be done by the Father in heaven.

The hardship of disunity was highlighted in Amos 3:3 (NLT) which stated, “Can two people walk together, without agreeing on the direction?” Now, apply that to prayer then apply it to every other part of life.

Small groups give you a place to share your prayer request, pray together in agreement, and watch God work miracles.

The third reason why small groups are important for your growth in Christ is discipleship and leadership training.

Jesus was preparing all the disciples to do some heavy work spreading the Gospel. Peter, John, and James were prominent leaders in the early Church.

God planned out every moment of their walk with Christ. There were significant lessons that each disciple needed to learn before the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus allowed the disciples to mistakes and corrected them as needed. As a result, all the men were well prepared to do the work necessary to spread the Gospel and fulfill the Great Commission.

If growth is desired in Christ, being a part of a small group is instrumental in discipleship and leadership training. There are vital lessons that needed to be learned in a safe place before taking the Good News to those out in the world.

Just as Christ groomed the disciples in the Bible, He also preparing you to do mighty works on the account of His name.

5 Ways to Spread God’s Love and Witness To Others

There are many people who will try to overcomplicate spreading God’s love and witnessing to others by making up their own man made rules. Some will try to say you need to take a class or be at a certain level in your faith, but none of that is true.

I was reading the book Experiencing God by Robert Blackaby, Claude V. King, and John Blackaby recently. I loved how the book touches on getting involved with the work that God is doing around you.

God wants you involved and He’s designed you to be here at this point in time to be a blessing to others to show His love.

He can use you at any point in your life. You just have to be open to doing the work.

Here are some simple ways to spread God’s love and witness to others.

1 —

Share Your Personal Faith Journey

God may open an opportunity to share your testimony with someone that comes across your path. You have a powerful story that is unique and only you can share. If you look at the New Testament, disciples of Jesus went before people and shared their personal story about their encounter with Christ. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit lead them on what to share. So, if you ever find yourself struggling on what you should say or even how to say, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the conversation. God may be using you to reach that person.

2 —

Share A Book

This is one of my favorite ways to share God’s goodness. If I talk to someone and I happen to know a good Christian book to help them in that area, I buy the book for that person. There have been times where I have bought a Bible for person who was curious about Jesus. It is so simple, if you have under $20 to spare. Don’t worry if they don’t read it immediately. There may be a time in their life in the future where God brings to their memory that you gave them a book.

3 —

Give Them A Card

There are so many occasions that pop up in people’s life. It has been such a blessing to me when people would randomly give me a card or a gift unexpectedly. It blessed me so much that I do it for other people. If I find out their birthday is coming up or they are dealing with grief, I run to the store and get a card. I typically take time to write something in it and let them know that I truly care. You never know how much it makes a difference until you do it.

4 —

Being Generous With Time

Generosity comes in a lot of forms. This includes your time and how precious is time since you can’t get it back. Sometimes it can hard to see how to make time for those who are in need, but we are called to be generous as believers. Therefore, if someone asks for mentorship, make some time in your schedule to mentor. If you have a friend who is going through unusually tough time in life, spend some time comforting them on the phone. If there is a community event that will improve the life of those who are poor, then volunteer to be a blessing. God gives us time not only use it for selfish reasons or to take care of things you care about, but he gives us time to be a blessing to others.

5 —

Be Open To Other Acts Of Kindness That God Prompts

There may be a time that comes up where God directs you to do something that seems unusual, but He is actually setting you up to be a blessing to another person. You may feel led to move seats to allow an elderly person sit down. You may see someone struggle with bags going to their car, and you may feel led to help them. You may have extra appliances in your house, and feel led to give the surplus to a neighbor. Whatever it is could be the Lord pushing you to be a blessing to others and it could open them up to being led to Christ or back to Christ.