Tag: prayer

Daily Habits for Mental Wellness as a Christian – PT. 1

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Hey, hey, everybody! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen.

There are so many aspects to being healthy . . . not just how much exercise you get or how healthy you eat. Are those things important? Absolutely! But a healthy body is not the only factor of a healthy spirit. That’s where mental wellness comes in. While this is a major topic on my blog, I realized that I’ve never directed a post about positive mental habits for fellow Christians. But that changes today.

As followers of Christ, there are so many ways to please God. And one thing that I know God wants is for us to be healthy–mentally, physically, and spiritually. And implementing healthy, productive habits into our daily lives to boost our mood and gain a sense of self worth is perfect for maintaining mental wellness and deepening our relationship with our Heavenly Father, in the process. Today, I will be listing a few ways that we can do so, with a scripture representing each point. So without further ado, let’s get started!

Practice Gratitude in all Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

For me, showing gratitude as a Christian is not simply just being thankful. It’s showing appreciation–through our actions, thoughts, and words–that God has loved us enough to bless us with salvation (eternal life) and all the other people and blessings that put the icing on the cake. While anyone can practice gratitude, it’s even more critical that we practice this lifestyle as followers of Christ.

By acknowledging the things that we are blessed to have, even in the moments where everything isn’t going our way or we don’t feel our best, we can build on our relationship with God as we give Him glory for all that He’s blessed us with. And the best part is, when we show God that we are thankful, He can (and will) bless us with even more than what we have now. What an amazing Father we serve!

Communicate with God through Prayer

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

– 1 John 5:14-15

Praying should be a no-brainer for all followers of Christ. Some people say that they are happier when they spend time with their family and friends. And while our loved ones are all wonderful gifts from God, it’s important that we take time everyday to communicate with the Lord, as well, with the power of prayer.

One of the most common questions that I see about prayer is simply “How do you pray?” Well, the simplest answer to that is have a conversation with God. That could be in the form of thanking Him (another great way to express our gratitude), asking Him for what we need, asking for forgiveness, and even using memorized scriptures to strengthen our conversations. Praying doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact. Even “Thank you, Lord” is a prayer.

Instead of thinking of praying as a daunting task (particularly for new Christians) think of it like this: God has given us the gift of being able to speak to Him whenever we’d like. We can get to know more about Him and better our spiritual and mental wellness while doing so. And when we decide to take that opportunity, we are taking a huge step towards becoming the best people that we can be; both as people and most importantly, God’s children.

Get Your Exercise

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Although they are most often separated as two different topics, our physical and mental health are more connected than some may realize. For example, if you eat an apple everyday, you will most likely have lower hormone fluctuations (meaning less mood swings) and a boosted mood. While on the other hand, too much stress can suppress one’s immune system and make them more susceptible to diseases.

Our bodies are yet another blessing from the Lord. And the functions of our bodies that seem as simple as walking and breathing are miracles. And because our bodies are such gifts, we’ve got to do what we can to keep them healthy. Exercise (preferably 30-60 minutes a day) is the perfect way to release happy hormones (therefore making you feel more relaxed and accomplished) while keeping our physical health in check. But, even if you get bored during your next jog, you can always play some of your favorite gospel tunes to add worship to your workout!

Understand Who You are In Christ

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

– John 14:27

Having a sense of confidence is something that anyone can struggle with, including God’s children. But the thing is, when we take a look into God’s Word, we notice that throughout the entire book, He is constantly telling us who we are to Him: the apple of His eye, forgiven, loved, saved, strong, made with a purpose, wonderfully made, and worthy to have a happy, eternal life.

While self confidence is something that can take time to build, we can’t help but be grateful when we receive all that God has called us to be. So whenever you need a little bit (or a lot) of encouragement, take time to study who God says you are. Because at the end of the day, that matters WAY more than what anyone else thinks/says about you.

Mental health is critical in our day to day lives, and we should all take time to make sure that we are taking time out of each day to maintain a happy, healthy, and godly state of mind. Hopefully, these simple yet life-changing habits will help you do just that. Please tell me some of your healthy habits (as a Christian) that you do to maintain mental wellness. Also, were any of these tips eye-openers for you?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

A prayer for the victims of the Texas School Shooting … 💖

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Hello, everybody! I hope you all are having a beautiful day or night!

At this point, almost everybody has heard about the tragedy of the Robb Elementary School shooting. While I usually don’t discuss events like this on my blog, I wanted to do my part in spreading awareness about gun violence and share my condolences to every person who was involved, as well as their loved ones.

Honestly, I wish that this hadn’t happened, as a majority of the people who have seen this news have. Each victim, whether a student or adult, had much more life to live, and none of them were deserving of this evil deed.

I understand that we cannot do anything to rectify the past, or the lives of every soul who has descended as a result of this event, but I would like to say a short prayer for everyone who was and is being affected.

Dear God,

Thank You for hearing from me today, as always. As You know, many families and children were hurt in the recent massacre. Although this might not take away the pain that the victims are currently feeling, I would like to bring my requests to you for a much brighter future in this world.

Please give the loved ones of the children and teachers–as well as the still-surviving victims, themselves–who were harmed by this school shooting a feeling of inner peace. Even in their state of grief, I pray that you will wrap your arms around them and give them hope for a better future. Please don’t let them use this event as a reason to give up, but please let it set a flame for them to do what they can to prevent others from experiencing what they did. Turn their grief into a drive to make the world a better place.

The truth is, some people in this world are crazy. And while some of them are mentally ill, others are filled with so much hate that they feel as though they need to hurt others the same way they are hurt. I pray that you will create peace in this world, where the government will stop worrying about power, but the safety of the citizens who they govern. I pray for gun safety laws so that families who drop their children off to school won’t have to worry that they won’t see them again.

Please let schools take their students’ and teachers’ safety as a top priority. Set a bubble of protection around every school as they put physical boarders in place to prevent history from repeating itself once again. Comfort the children and parents who are grieving and walking on eggshells. The surviving victims who had to witness the last moments of their classmates and teachers. Help them get the help that they need, so that they may see it as a testimony that You kept them here. Thank You Lord for preventing outcomes worse than what they were.

Please let this be a wake up call to everyone around the world, that life and world peace is more important than power. I bind up the spirit of greediness and pride. I pray that every person aware of this awful deed will have a spirit of compassion. Let this event be a large step in a safer nation, where the government, cops, and all those who should be protecting us to approve laws that ensure the safety, justice, and equality of ALL people. Please make this world better. Because we can’t do it without You.

Thanks again for listening and answering our humble prayers.

In Jesus’ name, Amen ♡

Hopefully, this event that will last in history will make a positive difference in our nation and our world. While I am sorry that this ever occurred, I am grateful that I can use my online platforms as a way to spread awareness about the issue of gun violence. I hope that this has inspired you to pray for all of those who were involved, not only earlier this week, but for decades before it.

LET’S CHAT~Feel free to share your thoughts, prayers, and condolences for the families in the chat. Just remember to keep it family appropriate please. Thanks! ♡

Have a beautiful and blessed day everybody! See you next time! 💖

How to Grow in Your Faith | 7 Faithful Steps

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Hey, y’all! How are you doing? Wonderful, I hope!

In several of my past posts, I have spoken quite frequently about the subject of faith. When we have faith, we are able to have the willpower to push through all of the trials of life due to our trust in the Lord. It is God’s desire to help us grow our faith in Him. But the question is, how exactly do we do that? I’ve got the perfect points for how you can make your faith stronger. Let’s get started!

1. Study; Read the Bible daily. Keep in mind that studying the Bible doesn’t have to take several hours every day. While some study sessions can be this length, it is perfectly fine to spend some or most of your days with 15-45 minute Bible sessions as you focus on 1-3 chapters at a time. The most important part of studying the Word of God is that you are able to gain wisdom and get closer to God in the process.

2. Fellowship; surround yourself with other people of faith. A big part of being a Christian is making sure that the people who we spend our time with reflect our faith. Therefore, when you attend church and other events within your community, make sure that you interact with other believers. Fellowship offers an opportunity for us to be inspired and give inspiration to and from other followers of Christ. Therefore, it serves as a great way to strengthen your faith.

3. Pray; make an effort to build your relationship with God. If you have the desire to grow in faith, then a good idea is to simply let God know what you want through prayer. Make sure that while you pray, you thank Him for what He has and is blessing you with. Then, ask Him to strengthen your faith and to give you a fresh love for Him, so that you may want to spend more and more time in His presence. From the wise words of James 4:2, we do not have because we do not ask God.

4. Forgive; learn how to forgive those who have sinned against you. The truth is we all want to be forgiven, for we have all sinned. Therefore, if we are loved enough so that we can be forgiven for our sins, we can forgive our enemies for their wrong doings. Although it is not easy, forgiving others helps us see God’s grace towards us, regardless of our shortcomings of His glory. Like the truth, forgiveness will set you free.

5. Give; take advantage of opportunities to give to others. In order to deepen our faith as evangelists of Christ, it’s always a blessing to be able to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We should always be on the look out for people to be a blessing to. God himself adores those who give out of the love of their heart.

6. Application; strive to live your life according to the Word of God. Trust me, I know that this step can be a lot easier said than done. However, it is crucially important that not only do we take the time to meditate on the Word of God, but also put God’s instructions for us into practice during everyday life. The reason why God gives us wisdom is so that we may use it for His glory.

7. Fulfillment; practice being content. While it can be tempting to focus on what we want and don’t have, it is important that we show God that we are thankful for the blessings that He has already bestowed upon us. When we are able to see the blessings in any situation, we begin to have a happier, healthier, and renewed way of life. A substantial quality of faith is trusting that despite the fact that everything isn’t going the way we envisioned, God is good to us, and He has a plan for us that will be greater than what we are capable of imagining.

I thoroughly had a great time sharing these tips for how we can grow in our faith. Just remember that as followers of Jesus Christ, we should put in the effort to do better and be better every day. Although we won’t be perfect, there is nothing that we cannot do when God is on our side. All we need is a mustard seed of faith.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! Peace in! 💖

Prayer is a Powerful Weapon – Words of Wisdom #14

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What is prayer? And furthermore, how do you pray?

Prayer is a huge part of Christianity.And if you’re anything like me, you pray every single day, multiple times a day. Chances are, you’ve heard the word prayer several times in your life. But have you ever really learned what the true definition of prayer actually is?

For this addition of Words of Wisdom, in celebration of the National Day of Prayer (May 5th), I will be sharing why prayer is so much more than bowing your head and putting your hands together. Prayer is having a conversation with God; it is a resource, a weapon that God has equipped us with. But it’s up to us to use it. Let’s get started! 🙏

How Do You Pray?

Matthew 6:9-13
"This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

The reason why I feel like this scripture is important is because it explains exactly how we need to pray, even in today’s time. Here is a breakdown of what this scripture reveals about the power of prayer.

  • “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” — first of all, it is important that we acknowledge that we are talking to the Lord. In this way we are giving our conversation with Him our undivided attention. Prayer is our spiritual and intimate time with God. Therefore, we need to remember to stay focused on Him, when we do pray.
  • “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” — this is how we say, “let God’s will be done,” as we are admitting that God’s way is the best and only way.
  • “Give us today our daily bread.” — a huge part of prayer is to ask God to bless us. If we have the desire for something, we need to humble ourselves and request it of our Heavenly Father. He already knows what we need. But He also wants us to come to Him so that He may meet those needs. Never forget that while we can give out requests, we should also thank God for what He has and is blessing us with.
  • “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” — in prayer, we must be sure to ask God for forgiveness of our sins. And in order to gain God’s forgiveness, we need to forgive others that have sinned against us. In order to be forgiven, we must forgive. (Matthew 6:14-15)
  • “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” — prayer is a weapon because it is a way for us to protect ourselves against the temptations and attacks of the enemy. As we ask God for Him to deliver us, we can be released from the attempts of the enemy to distract us from the Lord and all that He has in store for us.

What are the Benefits of Prayer?

Although I already talked about some of the reasons why prayer is powerful, I would like to wrap up these Words of Wisdom with just a few of the endless benefits of prayer.

  • Prayer helps strengthen and further develop our relationship with God.
  • Prayer gives us the answers that we need.
  • Prayer helps us resist giving into temptation.
  • Prayer can ignite miracles.
  • Prayer gives us inner peace.
  • Prayer allows us to lift up other believers, and whoever God puts on our hearts and minds.

If you get nothing else from today’s post, just remember this: we are able to talk to God 24/7. He is never too busy, and He is always anticipating our call. He has given us a gift to be able to access Him in all times of need. And we must admit that even if He doesn’t answer in the way we expected He will always answer. God is good like that.

So never take the power of prayer for granted; because prayer is a powerful weapon.

God bless you all! I’ll see you next time! ✨

Take a Leap of Faith – Words of Wisdom #12

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Hebrews 11:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

It can be easier to stay in your comfort zone. It can be more comfortable to stick with what’s familiar–with what you’ve always done. But the truth is, an important skill that we should all have in life is the ability to walk by faith and outside of what’s familiar. Because, if we’re always staying in that little box of comfort, how are we going to get to the next destination that God has along our path?

There is a season for everything. And during each season of our lives, God might want us to keep doing what we’re doing for a while. But just like every season must start, every season must come to pass, at some point and time.

At some point, we may not understand why God is calling us to go to the next destination. But the thing is, God told us not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge and trust Him. And when we do, He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we walk in faith, we are not walking because we understand where we are going or why we are going there. But we are doing so because we know that God, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13), is and will be with us every step of our journey.

Here are some ways to keep the faith throughout life’s challenges:

  • Pray–ask God every day to give you strength to take a leap of faith. Be honest about what you need. In addition, thank Him for what He has blessed you with–there’s always something (and more than one thing) to be thankful for.
  • Read Bible verses about hardship, faith, and overcoming to get inspired.
  • Spend time with other believers–fellowship can be a great way to build your faith in the Lord.
  • Believe and confess that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, if you haven’t already–this is the first step to living a faith-filled life.

Thank you so much for reading another addition to the Words of Wisdom series. Don’t forget that we shouldn’t leap with our own understanding, but with the understanding of what God says in His Word. As long as we have faith in Him, the Lord will provide us with everything that we need, and more.

Have a beautiful and blessed day everyone! “See” you next time! ✨