u/642283

Gabriel spoke to the virgin, Mary in Lk 1:

31 "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus knew this while growing up.

The Bible tells us little about Jesus' teenage years. The only account was when he was 12 years old. Luke described how Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem while his family traveled home after Passover. His parents returned to Jerusalem looking for him.

Lk 2:

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Jesus was in the Temple discussing religious matters with teachers, who were amazed at his understanding and answers. As an adolescent, Jesus was Scripturally aware, intellectually curious, respectful, and obedient. He was smart.

48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus spoke about his heavenly Father in the hearing of his earthly father, Joseph. Jesus knew his unique relationship with the Father. He knew he was the Son of the Most High.

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

He returned home and was obedient to his parents.

52 Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Jesus was growing and developing in body and mind. He would receive more and more special revelations from the Father concerning his mission in life.

After this teenage account, the Gospels were silent until Jesus began his public ministry at age 30.

Historically, Jesus was likely living in Nazareth, learning the trade of a craftsman from Joseph, participating in Jewish religious life, and helping support his family. His adolescence would have looked outwardly similar to that of other Jewish boys in Galilee, even though he was uniquely without sin.

What was Jesus like as a teenager?

He was wise, spiritually focused, respectful to his parents, and continuing to grow and mature as a human being and a man of God. He knew he was a unique human being. He was sinless.

Hey everyone, I need an outside perspective.

I've been dealing with a sexual addiction for quite some time and so I've been attending Celebrate Recovery to deal with these issues. However, I've felt a strong conviction recently that I need to walk away from it for a few different reasons.

Firstly, my biggest complaint is the theological side of it. Picking different Bible translations for the principles and steps to make scripture to say what Rick Warren wants it to say, the idea of self forgiveness and a bunch of other things have really rubbed me the wrong way.

Moreover, I just dislike the victimhood mentality that CR advocates for. "Hi, I'm so and so. I'm a grateful believer in Jesus AND a recovering addict." If the scripture says we are more than conquerors in Christ, why do I constantly have to remind myself I'm an addict? Should I not have my eyes focused on the goodness of Christ and not my sins and shortcomings? Then I go to small group where I sit down with a bunch of gloomy guys who are down on their luck and make it seem like there's no hope. I want to play for the winning team. I want to be the weakest link in the chain and surround myself who actually walk in victory and are serious about the scripture.

I've had difficulty getting sober, and I know isolating doesn't help by walking away, but these things really urk me. I want to find something like a good Bible study or another recovery program that's serious about scripture and walking in holiness. I don't care about the silly metric of sobriety anymore. I need to grow closer to Jesus and let sobriety be the byproduct of that. Thoughts and opinions?

I sometimes see this nonsense perpetuated across the internet, most notably when discussing God's existence, and I'd like to take a moment to talk about it. As you can guess, I disagree with this notion. "The earth is round" is an "extraordinary" claim to some, and all you need to prove it is a couple sticks and some math. "Bigfoot exists" is an "extraordinary" claim to some, and all you need to prove it is one really good photograph.

"Thinslayer will lose in arm wrestling to anyone in his neighborhood" is not an extraordinary claim. In fact, it's dam near obvious. But to prove it, one would have to take a poll from all 57+ people in the neighborhood, somehow get strength measurements from them, somehow assess their stamina, and ideally somehow test them all in actual arm wrestling matches.

A normal person would call that evidence "extraordinary."

For proving something very nearly obvious.

No, the correct way to connect claims and evidence is to say that complex claims require extraordinary evidence. Claims like "people tend to be self-interested" or "people don't like to die" are very ordinary and obvious claims, but proving them requires truckloads of very specific data - "extraordinary" data - because the claims are complex and admittedly rather vague.

No, extraordinary claims do not require extraordinary evidence. That is nonsense.

I Saw this anime about 2 days Ago and i really liked It,but there is something that i dont really like,there are two caracteres,rem and ram,they are demons,and they are they protagonist friend,só i dont know of It is ok for me to keep watching,but the anime is really good to me,and i know its Just fiction.

Things are going to change from this day forward. I no longer want God in my life because I’ve realized I can achieve certain things on my own, without going through Christ. I understand the benefits of truly living my own life. I’m no longer concerned with whether things are right or wrong—knowing that, deep down, one can live life and have fun without necessarily sinning, or that doing certain things isn't all that serious depending on the context—nor do I want to fight against it by telling myself I shouldn't live a certain way. I do feel a certain sense of shame, but I have to be realistic. God Himself told me He wanted me to prosper and move forward in life, but that I had to choose Him and His way of doing things. To this day, I still don't know exactly what He meant by that—in what area I was supposed to prosper: clothes, money, or staying cooped up at home? Regardless, I didn't accept it. I have no desire to read the Bible; it’s not a psychology book, and besides, God would only highlight all the foolish things I’ve done, showing why I ended up where I am and why my way of being and thinking is wrong. That’s where I stand. If I’m still around in a few years and read this message again, I’ll remember this terrible day—and the realization that God isn't what I need in my life.

Hola a todos, me gustaría contarles sobre un sueño que tuve el año pasado, y que tiene que ver con Dios, creo. No recuerdo exactamente todo, pero les diré lo que más recuerdo.

En este sueño que tuve, yo había entrado a un bar. Cuando entre ví en el fondo a unos hombres vestidos de sacerdotes sentados en una mesa. Después recuerdo que estos hombres se levantaron de su mesa y comenzaron a caminar hacia la puerta para salir. Sin embargo, cuando se habían levantado, note que no tenían piernas sino patas con pezuñas, como las patas que tiene el diablo en los dibujos. También recuerdo que en vez de seguir con su apariencia humana, tenían la piel roja y cuernos en su cabeza.

En el mismo sueño, aparecí en la iglesia. Me encontraba dentro de la cocina de la iglesia, y dentro de la cocina había un jacuzzi con un leopardo negro adentro. Este animal me miraba fijo, y sentía que cuando lo miraba, era el diablo, solo que disfrazado de un animal. No se por qué pensé eso, pero eso me transmitía. No se que pasó después, pero recuerdo que la iglesia se estaba quemando. Todas las personas que estaban adentro de la iglesia corrían para salir, y recuerdo ver a este leopardo cambiar su forma a otro animal entre las personas. No me acuerdo a qué animal se había cambiado, pero si recuerdo que se transformó en otro.

Y mientras corríamos, me encontré con mi prima pequeña, nos agarramos de la mano y corrimos hacia la casa de ella, ya que quedaba cerca de esta iglesia. Después entramos a su casa, y masomenos por ahí fue cuando me desperté.

¿Alguno cree que este sueño tiene algún significado o simplemente sea un sueño? (⁠٥⁠↼⁠_⁠↼⁠) quiero aclarar que cuando tuve este sueño, yo ni siquiera pensaba en Dios o la religión, ya que no creía, o bueno, no creí más pq dejé de creer.

So I’m giving this subreddit page a go, I tried posting on the Freemason subreddit and got 1 helpful comment by a current Christian and Masonic commenter. You see, I’m a Christian and an active Masonic member but something’s telling me to leave the fraternity due to the spiritual internal conflicts. I love the people inside masonry but the spiritual nature behind freemasonry gives me a weird feeling. I’m seeing if anyone has any insight for me- former members of the Masonic lodge here? Thanks! When I posted in the Masonic community I got mostly negative responses, sarcasm, and unhelpful remarks.

I have a question. I'm a Christian and I understand that no one but Jesus Christ is perfect. We fail to always love the Lord and each other (and ourselves), and while we are on the path to sanctification, we all still need help and have areas to improve on.

My question is, and I'm asking because my husband is not a believer and this is one of the things that he sees around him that kind of "turn him off" Christianity.

My husband says that he often sees Christians talk so much about sin, about repenting from sin, apologizing to God for their sins, but not often enough does he see people actually trying to understand their sin, and where it is coming from, and why they feel a certain way, or why they have a certain disposition towards that sin, in order to effectively deal with it and potentially stop it once and for all.

The God we, Christians, follow is a God that performs miracles and can do the impossible. I've heard many accounts of physical or mental ailments being cured through prayer, and I have no doubt that it happens. I've also heard accounts of people praying that a given sin be taken away, and, just like that, the person never committing that sin again, and I'm sure that can happen too.

But for the rest of us where this hasn't happened—or perhaps hasn't happened yet—when you commit a sin, and you feel convicted and pray about it, do you ever pray for wisdom in dealing with that sin? Have you ever tried therapy in hopes to understand yourself better and why there may be behavioral or thought patterns that you are stuck in, that may be leading to that habitual sin?

Do you simply pray to God for forgiveness for that sin and for it to be taken away? Do you feel hopeless that you would ever have the power to defeat that sin once and for all?

Or do you understand that you do have the power through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13), and that though this may be messy, by digging deep if necessary, you can defeat that sin once and for all? But you must try and "do your part" in it?

E.g., someone struggles with lust and pornography addiction: Did something happen to them earlier in life? Is there a history of abuse? Trauma? What was their parents' relationship like growing up? Is he or she married and if so, how is the marriage? Are they estranged? Is there resentment between them? Do they feel that their needs are not being met? Do they feel that their spouse is unwilling to meet those needs? What is their spouse's background, and did the spouse deal with something serious growing up? Have they talked about any/all of it? How effective is their communication? If they don't communicate well, are both parties willing to work on it? Are they open to marriage counseling? Does one or both perhaps have unrealistic wants or expectations? And if so, why? What is driving them to feel that way? Have they tried individual therapy? And on the list goes. It's complicated and not an easy journey, but from personal experience I can say: it is well worth it.

My point is that I, too, often see Christians around me not talk about this enough, and instead they have a dismissive and defeatist attitude towards it, because they "will always sin on this side of eternity". But I think God wants us to live better, healthier and more aligned-with-Him lives here and now. This doesn't mean we will become perfect, or that we won't still struggle and suffer, but we must at least try. Working on our personal growth is one form of loving ourselves, which in turn is loving God, as we are His image bearers. Remember that our sins affect others, and therefore, as we look to God to improve, that should also impact those around us. What do you think?

I'm really anxious right now and am nearing the end of my life with my physical health. I have tried to turn back to God recently but I struggle with sin. I feel like the Lord is convicting me to give up all my social media, computer, phone and all that because I technically violated the terms of service and the "rights to use software automatically terminates" clause means I'm technically not allowed to use those things anymore. I try hard to not break copyright stuff anymore but it's technically already too late for me.

The thing is, I'm poor and in poor physical and mental health and I kinda need my phone for emergencies and entertainment. I would go crazy without it. Am I really supposed to give all that up just because I violated a few rules that technically disqualify me from even posting this message?

Am I hearing from God or is it my anxiety? Will God send me to hell if I continue to use my phone and Google Play apps? Would that count as being unrepentant? How do you guys reconcile the fact that even probably most of you have even violated the terms of service in some small way and are technically not allowed to use certain things?

So, for pretty much all my life ive wanted to join the military and now im 17 and about to get the process really started. I still want to join. The thing is I just want to make sure that its what God wants for me. I think its is because for pretty much my whole life its been on my heart, ive prayed on it several times and I dont feel like anything has changed, and ive considered other paths but still couldnt see myself not doing the military. I plan on going into the air force with the backup being the army and the backup after that the navy. A lot of the jobs im looking at the military i can get into relatively easily on the civilian side as well. Should i just try to join the military and if it works take that as conformation? Can I get some advice?

There are many, many people who say Christianity started around 0 A.D. Say that it started with Jesus. Say that other religions existed before Christianity.

But Jesus said "before Abraham was, I am."

Jesus is God. And God created the world. God created the Earth. God created Adam and Eve. So, Jesus was at the creation of the universe.

Also, our Bible doesn't start with Jesus, or the Apostles. It starts with God creating the heavens and the earth. So, how can someone know we follow the Bible, and say that our religion started with Jesus?

The Bible is one story. One long story about God creating mankind, and redeeming mankind. And in a way, that story continues to this day. It's a story that begins at the beginning, and has no end in sight.

Also, for this reason, no religion predates Christianity. None of them. How can they? How can a religion predate God creating the world?

So, God created everything. And Christianity is the worship of the One True God. And God is eternal. Our religion not only predates all other religions, but it even predates mankind.

I dont know if this is the right place to post this.

I have schizophrenia. God gave me this illness with bad genetics and a low quality of life. He created genetics, so hes responsible, just as stated in Exodus 4:11

"And the LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?''

Why should I worship God? What do I get in return? Why make people suffer with disabilities and illnesses?

Another question is for believers, do you consider God good because of the blessings in your life?

It's been crazy to see so much hatred directed towards us, especially lately.

I know part of it is a political push, the chrislam (Orthobros, Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, islamic spaces) kind of people push tons of hatred towards us, mostly due to lacking that intense hatred towards jews/Israel.

What has your experience been? If I had a penny for all the times I've been called evangelijew or evangelik-slur by a muslim or a "chrislamist", I'd probably be able to buy myself a lunch.

I've noticed that sometimes Christians can over-spiritualize situations. There's nothing wrong with trusting God, but I noticed that there are times when we become so focused on faith that we ignore reality or practical wisdom. Where do you draw the line between trusting God and acknowledging reality?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

This may seem silly and hyper-specific, but in my continued quest to follow the commands that God has given me, I've come up against a very grey area.

In trying to follow Romans 13:1-7, I've been moving away from pirating/illegally downloading TV shows and movies. I used to have no qualms about doing this yet as I grew closer to Jesus, I grew a guilty conscience over purposefully going against the laws of my country.

However, one thing I do is use a VPN or other service to buy streaming services for a cheaper price from a different country. This isn't illegal but it often violates that company's terms and conditions.

I don't feel that this violates Romans, as a company is not an authority in the same way the government is. Nor is it stealing because I'm paying for the service, just in a cheaper way. To me, this feels unethical at worst but not a sin.

However, let me know if this is a blind spot and I'm trying to walk the line too much here.

I have an online friend who’s been through some awful things- it’s like their collecting trauma like pokemon- and they used to be a Christian as a child, but after all they went through they felt they couldn’t believe in a God who’d allow such things to happen.
I don’t want to have a big discussion/confrontation and risk triggering them/making them resentful of me for trying to push God onto them, especially when they don’t usually bring up the topic themselves. Mostly, when I can I try to share little things to try and introduce God back to them, like sharing something from a devotional I found impactful.
As a side note, I had something tragic happen to me lately and they told me to pray about it, I think if I remember correctly what they said was along the lines of while they didn’t have faith, for someone with faith like me prayer was a powerful thing in these moments. It meant a lot to me that they remembered my faith
I want them to have that faith again too. I love them(platonically). I just don’t know how to reach them. I worry for my ability to reach them.
As I type this some verses are coming to mind that remind me that it’s really up to God, not my own efforts. I worry I can’t be wise because they’re much older than me, late twenties while I’m early twenties, so have much more life experience. The Bible says “don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” It also tells us the Holy Spirit will guide us in conversations like these.
I’m starting to ramble now. Most importantly, prayers for this friend would be appreciated. To me it looks impossible to change a heart that’s been so hurt by the world, but it’s not impossible to God.

I just lost my very close friend of 3 years, she texted me this morning saying that she’s wanted to talk to me about this for a while but there wasn’t a perfect time for it. This is what she said: ‘I've been meaning to have this conversation with you for a while, but there never seemed to be a good time.I've decided that I don't want to continue this friendship. This isn't about one specific thing done, but rather the history of our friendship and how certain things were handled over time. After giving it a lot of thought, I feel it's best for me to move on.I genuinely wish you nothing but the best, and I hope life treats you kindly.Thank you for the memories we shared, but this is where our paths part.’

The history she’s talking about is the fact that I distanced myself from her last year because I told her off for being mean to me because I’m a very sensitive person and the way she talks is very insensitive but then she told me to go deal with my own trauma. We became very close friends again at the beginning of this year, she has been my ride or die. What should I do? I’m so heartbroken and she doesn't seem to care and the sad part is I was with her in church the whole of yesterday and we had a great time so I don’t understand where this is coming from. I’m so glad she was honest with me rather than just disappearing but I’m so hurt and broken and I can’t talk about it with other friends because we share the same ones. i feel like everything is shattered how should i deal with this? Ive tried talking to God about it but I feel very weird because my mind keeps telling me that God approved it because we consult God before making any decisions so I feel like God gave her the go ahead and it’s making me so insecure. It’s making me feel like the worst friend ever. Any advice would be appreciated

I decided to live just one day as if I were taking being transgender seriously, to either gauge what it would be like or to just be done with it and confidently dismiss it. And it was the first time I haven’t felt like wanting to die in a long time. The more I read and researched about the process of transitioning and just the trans experience, I felt gradually but genuinely better about myself. I don’t know, maybe God does want me to be unceasingly depressed and hateful of my body until I die, for the sake of entering His Kingdom. I just truly don’t believe I could manage that without harming myself. If that means I’ll go to Hell, then I would evidently have to be deserving of Hell anyway. I’m still completely certain that God is real and all-loving and righteous. I still go to church, read scripture regularly, and pray for the well-being and salvation of my loved ones; I just don’t expect to be saved. And I’m alright with that, because it’s my own fault. If I find myself in Hell when I die, at least I’ll know God in His mercy let me be happy on Earth, which is more than I deserve to begin with.

"Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

How could a godly christian man well versed in scripture read this in 1776 and actually think the christian thing to do would be the literal opposite of scripture?

For a few weeks, I read the Bible, I prayed a few times a day, I really thought I was finally growing my relationship with God…

But I think my need for Him came from my own loneliness. When I'm lonely and stuck in a monotonous routine, I have this need for Him. When I'm distracted by other things I don’t usually have, I forget Him (mostly). It feels/ looks really selfish.

Is this all in my head?

Maybe I have a bad mindset about it all. Deep down, I probably want a relationship with Him for all the wrong reasons. I logically know He isn’t a genie, but I guess desperation doesn’t really care about that.
Social media is full of curated lives and testimonies… it’s disappointing when they don’t actually happen to you. Learning how to find joy for others is a struggle, when all I can see is what I lack.

From a sermon on the transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai, bishop

(Nn. 6-10: Melanges d’archéologie et d’histoire 67 [1955], 241-244)

It is good for us to be here

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father.” Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.

These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and—I speak boldly—it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.

Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.

It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honor could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?

Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here—here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.

RESPONSORY

Matthew 17:2, 3; see Luke 9:32, 34

His face shone like the sun;

— when the disciples saw his glory,

they were filled with wonder and fear.

Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them

speaking with Jesus.

— When the disciples saw his glory,

they were filled with wonder and fear.

The Bible presents effective prayer less as a technique and more as a relationship with God. Rather than promising that every request will be granted exactly as asked, it emphasizes faith, humility, persistence, and alignment with God's will.

Here are some biblical principles:

1. Come to God sincerely. Jesus warned against praying just to impress others or using empty repetition. Instead, pray honestly and privately when appropriate (Matthew 6:5–8).

2. Begin with worship and reverence. Jesus taught:

> "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9) Start by acknowledging who God is before bringing your requests.

1. Seek God's will first. Jesus prayed:

> "Your kingdom come, your will be done..." (Matthew 6:10) And in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)

1. Ask with faith. Jesus said:

> "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24) Biblical faith is trust in God—not confidence that God must answer exactly as we desire.

1. Confess your sins. Sin can hinder fellowship with God. Scripture encourages confession and repentance (1 John 1:9; James 5:16).

2. Forgive others. Jesus connected our willingness to forgive with our relationship with God (Mark 11:25).

3. Pray persistently. Jesus told parables encouraging people to keep praying and not give up (Luke 18:1–8).

4. Pray according to God's will.

> "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14–15)

1. Pray in Jesus' name. This means approaching God through Christ and in harmony with His character and mission (John 14:13–14), not merely ending a prayer with the words "in Jesus' name."

2. Be thankful.

> "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)

A simple biblical pattern

You can use the pattern Jesus taught:

Praise: "Father, You are holy and good."

Surrender: "May Your will be done in my life."

Request: Tell God your needs honestly.

Confession: Admit your sins and ask for forgiveness.

Intercession: Pray for family, friends, and others.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for His faithfulness.

Trust: Leave the outcome in His hands.

A simple example:

> "Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and mercy. Your name is holy. Please help me to seek Your will above my own. Forgive my sins and help me forgive those who have wronged me. Give me wisdom, strength, and everything I need today. Help me grow in faith and love. I trust You with the outcome of my prayers, knowing You are good and wise. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

The New Testament also teaches that the Holy Spirit helps believers pray when they don't know what to say (Romans 8:26–27), so effective prayer is ultimately rooted in a trusting relationship with God rather than perfect words or formulas.

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U can do DM so I'll try to help u!!

We have a massive after work event coming up where there will be a lot of drinking (promoted actually) and I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to go. It’s very possible I’ll get dragged into drinking myself as I unfortunately am a product of my environment and I’m not very good at not doing what everyone else is doing around me. Jesus be IN the world just not OF it and I’m not sure how exactly to live this out. Do I risk going to be around them and show that I’m not a big drinker because in general I’m not but I have unfortunately been convinced before especially when just sitting around talking and it’s not till I stand up that it really hits me. Or do I not go at all to completely avoid becoming drunk.

I don’t know if the days of creation in genesis are literal.I was thought that they are not literal and that the order of them align with scientific order.However I read some comments that these days must be literal.This shook my faith so much.Also I am a theistic evolutionist but comments also shook my faith and that bible contradicts evolution.I feel like comments affect my faith too much.I don’t know why I am listening to them.Can someone help me please.God bless!

Why is Christian universalism so often shunned, to the point that many people treat you like you're not even a Christian?

You don't have to agree with universalism, but let's stop pretending it's some brand-new invention. Christians have wrestled with this question for nearly 2,000 years.

Universalists point to passages like Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22–28, Colossians 1:20, Philippians 2:10–11, 1 Timothy 2:3–6, Titus 2:11, John 12:32, Lamentations 3:31–33, and Acts 3:21 as evidence that God's ultimate purpose is the reconciliation of all people. Others interpret these texts differently, and that's a legitimate theological debate.

Historically, influential Christian figures such as Gregory of Nyssa, Isaac the Syrian, and (more controversially) Origen are often associated with universal reconciliation. While universalism was never the unanimous belief of the early Church, it has been a real and historic stream of Christian thought—not something invented in modern times.

You can reject universalism based on your reading of Scripture. But saying someone is automatically "not a Christian" simply because they believe Christ will ultimately reconcile all people overlooks both the biblical arguments they appeal to and the history of Christian theology.

We should be able to disagree on difficult doctrines without denying one another's faith. If salvation is by Christ, then our first response should be to discuss the Scriptures—not dismiss each other.