Tag: #relationship

The Intentional Pursuit

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV, emphasis added).

What does it mean to acknowledge God in all our ways? The New Living Translation reads, “Seek his will in all you do.” It’s an intentional pursuit, not something that happens overnight.  

The word used in the old text is yada, which means to know relationally or to be aware, knowing what to do with respect to God (Key Word Study Bible, 1732). In other words, to know God’s will in our lives, we must know him relationally.

This also relates to a time when David gave his son, Solomon, some great advice – to seek God with his whole heart and a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9, ESV). He went on to finish the verse by telling Solomon that “The Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.” 1 Samuel 16:7 also speaks of this concept when the Lord tells Samuel that He and man see differently: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In short, a person’s actions flow from the heart, where our inward moral and spiritual life stems, which is why it is vital to seek God with our whole heart.

Solomon faithfully built the temple but did not serve God wholeheartedly during his reign (1 Kings 11:4). This reminds me a Psalmist’s plea for a cleansed heart after turning away from God: “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). This heartfelt prayer reflects genuine repentance. Such a heart longs for a renewed awareness of God’s presence, aiming to restore the joy and gladness that come from being in God’s presence, as noted in the ESV Study notes.

Thankfully, through Christ, we are faultless before the throne of grace (Jude 1:24). Still, that doesn’t mean we don’t fall short and need repentance that brings us closer to God so we can experience that joy and peace and therefore, know Him more intimately, which in turn, helps us understand His will for us more clearly.

All aspects come together—God’s love for us and His wish to be in a relationship with us— help us in trusting Him with our next move, even when we don’t know where it will lead.

The foundation for making God-honoring decisions in everyday life is a relationship with our Creator, built on reverence and awe for God Himself. This is reflected in the verse: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7 NLT, emphasis added). In this context, ‘fear’ signifies respect and awe. It also recognizes that all knowledge and wisdom stem from complete dependence on God, fostering humility and discouraging pride. It is more than just an attitude – it represents a way of life that acknowledges God’s power and authority, as well as our accountability to Him (Prov. 3:7; 15:33, NLT Study Notes).

Let’s transform these verses into a grateful prayer to God, affirming our trust in Him, our effort to align with His will in all things, and our thankfulness that He guides us.

Decision-making has always come as a challenge in my life. I think it stemmed from being a people-pleaser. I often made the wrong choices over the years, some with life-altering consequences. My fears of making the wrong choices have followed me into my later years and plagued me even in simple decisions. I’ve shifted from being a people-pleaser to a perfectionist, and I’m hard on myself when a decision doesn’t go well. Something I am working on, with God’s help.

However, I only recently realized that God is using my difficult circumstances to teach me better decision-making. Sometimes it seems like He’s pushing me, but maybe that’s just my stubbornness showing. To flip the script, I started thanking God for helping me. Even though it is painful and challenging, I trust Him with my whole heart and know it is a much-needed spiritual growth spurt that will help me in all aspects of life.

Not so ironically, I had been praying for God to help me make wise, godly decisions with confidence that align with God’s will. I ask for this not only in major decisions, but also in my daily life, whether personal or business-related. God answers prayers. The answers often come in strange ways – at least to us – because our understanding is clouded while we are going through it. But in the end, God makes it worth it and shapes our character through it.

The lesson is about decision-making. In every decision, I now pause, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me. Intentional prayer is crucial. There’s always time to pray, even if it’s just a quick ‘help me, Holy Spirit.’ Preparing beforehand is essential to facing challenges, and making daily life choices involves seeking God’s will and requesting wisdom early on, before a situation arises.

I’m still learning, but with daily practice, it becomes a natural response to any decision.

Don’t Follow Your Heart

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

You don’t often hear that statement in a world where people look for what makes them happy to fulfill their inner desires. It is more popular to tell people to follow their heart, which generally means making decisions based on emotions or personal desires rather than solely relying on logic or reason.

But what if I told you this life is not about being happy? It’s about finding joy. There is a difference. Circumstances drive happiness, but joy happens regardless of circumstances. This concept can bring hope and optimism, knowing that joy is not dependent on external factors but can be found within through our connection with God and His love. Jesus said when we keep His commandments, we abide in God’s love, as he did. (John 15:9-10).

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11, emphasis added).

Joy is derived from a spirit-filled heart. In the Bible, the heart refers to human will and emotions. Anytime our feelings are involved, we must be cautious, warned, and prepared not to allow them to take over and disregard reality. The Bible says the heart is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer. 17:19, ESV). Allowing our emotions and desires to override the truth is easy without spiritual discernment.

While following your heart can be rewarding to the flesh, it’s essential to balance it with rational thinking and consider the practical consequences of your choices. Prayerful consideration in decision-making is critical to logical thinking since our emotions can lead us astray.

I remember a season after becoming a Christ-follower when I didn’t trust myself with making decisions because I knew the consequences of my past mistakes. I was reminded that I am not the same person as I was when I made such poor judgment, although I was still valuable and worthwhile in God’s eyes; I am wiser and make better godly choices.

With God’s help, I made a list of all the things I am now that I wasn’t then and came up with eleven things. Such as honesty/truth (I am not hiding secrets anymore), respect for my body, I have boundaries, morals, and a voice to say no, and on and on the list goes.

This is an excellent exercise for anyone questioning themselves, especially for a new Christ-follower. I can trust myself to make decisions because I do not rely on myself. I take all my decisions to God, and this makes a huge difference. So, let’s stop following our hearts, allowing our emotions to make decisions without taking them to God first, and praying for spiritual discernment and the wisdom to stay in step with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25).

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24, emphasis added).

“Walk by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16, emphasis added).

“A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones” (Prov. 4:30. MSG, emphasis added).

Smile…God Loves You!

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Smiles, like yawns, are contagious. If you share one, you’ll likely get one in return. But the benefits of smiling go beyond this simple exchange. As Dr. Earlexia Norwood of Henry Ford Health points out, smiling has multiple benefits. Yet, we often smile less as we age, missing out on the opportunity to connect with others.

The article states that studies conclude that some benefits are reduced blood pressure, increased endurance, reduced pain and stress, and a strengthened immune system. Furthermore, when we smile, we are not just helping ourselves; since the domino effect is at play, we are also helping others.

Another article by Better by Today on NBC News Now says that smiling, even when we don’t feel like it, can trick the brain into thinking we are happy, resulting in the same benefits. It states that smiling spurs a chemical reaction that releases hormones, including dopamine and serotonin.

The Bible also says something about smiling – or a cheerful face – which comes from a glad heart, indicating a positive attitude toward life when the inner self is healthy (Proverbs 15:13, ESV). It continues, pointing out that a joyful heart is good medicine, while a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22).

Going through life with a sour attitude and face can harm us. Smiling is linked to a positive attitude derived from our relationship with God and the condition of our inner heart. It is not always easy to stay positive and keep our eyes on Christ when things are not going well. Nevertheless, staying grateful for the blessings we have will help. One day at a time is the pace of grace. Waking up with breath in our lungs is something to be grateful for.

Recently, I asked God for a new perspective, and boy, He delivered! The very next morning, a friend at church shared a story about a man in Haiti whose knee got infected after surgery because he couldn’t get back to the doctor’s office to take off the metal plate due to gangs blocking the streets. He made a connection for him through another person, who arranged for him to get to a doctor 300 miles away, traveling in a small vehicle full of 40-50 people. It took three different trucks to get him there, but as of Monday, he was having surgery. There are many more details that I am sure I am leaving out, but you get the idea. This story hit me hard and reminded me that people are dealing with much worse things than my feeble problems.

Can you relate? Do the blessings we have every day that most take for granted make you smile? That and the fact that God loves us, no matter what should make us keep a smile on our faces. Thanking God for everything makes a big difference in our attitude and perspective. Can you list all the things that make you smile?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thes. 5:16-18, Emphasis added).