Can you please give me like a bible plan so I can really get stuck in the word. Right now I kinda just flip through it or close my eyes and open it. I don’t have an actual plan of how to read it.

His Precious Gift replies…

Hello my sister,

I would be more then happy to help you with giving you some direction on where to start in reading the Word. Realize sister that every time you read the word you position yourself to receive divine direction from God. When you spend time researching the Scriptures you will acquire wisdom for every situation in life. As you study, expect to find answers to your questions and solutions to your problems! (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

It’s so amazing how when we start reading the bible many of us would do the same thing you are doing now. I would close my eyes and hope that when I opened them it would give me this awesome revelation that I needed. I must admit that many times it would show me exactly what I needed to see. However this should not be our daily practice.

There are many bibles that have a daily reading schedule either in the front or back. Take a look and see if yours has one. Usually it is a daily reading schedule that will help you to read the entire bible in one year. That may be a good start for you. Most often they have you start with Geneses and Matthew always reading one book in the Old Testament and one book in the New Testament, that is a very effective way.

My personal suggestion for new Christians is to start with the book of John, Acts and Romans. After you have accomplished reading and really studying those books then venture into the Old Testament. You will find that the stories in the Old Testaments will open your eyes to a totally new way to see The Word of God. The stories of God’s faithfulness and deliverance are amazing, inspiring, and will build your faith.

The more you read the Word the more you will see that it becomes your primary source of sustenance for your faith. When you set time aside each day for daily Bible reading it will become a lifestyle!

I will keep you in my prayers and I will pray that God gives you knowledge and wisdom to read His Word as we continue in this journey.

Much Love,

His Precious Gift

I was born in Tampa, Florida and raised in Venezuela. My father was a Latino with earthly desires for gambling and women. My mother lived in a foreign country, holding a full time job while trying to raise five children on her own. Whenever they separated, we moved away, once to Spain for a year, and twice to Ohio.

When I was twelve, they divorced. I had always lacked self-esteem, but now I could not relate to people anymore, especially boys. I did not receive the emotional support that I needed from my parents. I felt like I was on my own, and a huge, craving hole in my heart begged to be filled.
I started to fill my treasure box with boys. I wanted to be loved, and I looked for it with members of the opposite sex. If a boy kissed me and touched me, then I felt accepted. And there was a chance that I was pretty, or he wouldn’t have been attracted to me.

I then filled the treasure box with drugs and alcohol. It felt so good to escape! And finally I had a crowd that accepted me. But, as time went on, I hated myself more and more.

At the age of 17, I accepted the Lord as my Savior but never went to church or read the Bible. Two years later I moved back to the states and continued my life of drugs, alcohol and sex, still searching for the one thing that would fill up that hole in my heart.

The inevitable happened. I got pregnant. I was going to get married but my boyfriend’s parents were against it so I did something that I will regret for the rest of my life. I had an abortion. Even writing about it today fills my heart with sadness. I had a child growing within me, and I got rid of this little human being because it was the easy way out. I did not take responsibility for my own actions.

I filled my treasure box with adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, and hate. I hated myself and the world. I fought everybody and lived a selfish life. I longed for purity, it was such a strong desire, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Some missionaries got a hold of me and I joined a church that was steeped in works-related living. If I was good, I was rewarded. If I was bad, I was punished.
Now I had a treasure box full of religion that I lived for 20 years. But I was still empty.
I married an angry, controlling, broken man who abused me physically, emotionally and verbally, just as I did to him. We had three children. My self-hate continued to grow. I believed some of the things he said about me and started to feel like I was a horrible mother, wife and person. I just couldn’t get it right.

We divorced after 12 years and I rebounded into a marriage that was worse than the previous one. We had a daughter. After receiving within me the ugly words he said to me, I thought I was the scum of the earth and honestly believed that the world would be better off without me. I would write hate letters to myself and hurt myself for punishment. I wanted to die. I believed that my children didn’t deserve a mother like me.

After about two years, we divorced, and I jumped right into another marriage. This third husband was also very angry and controlling. We had a son.

I had become a full-blown co-dependent person. One who works for love. “If I do nice things for you and forsake my personality for you, you will love me”. It is a form of controlling other people’s behaviors. And I was very good at it, too!

I now had a treasure box full of children, ex-husbands, horrible behaviors and habits, and I still was not happy. What was missing?

In January of the year 2000, I found the answer. It was Jesus Christ. I received Him into my life again; this time I gave Him full control. I let Him be the Lord of my life. A difficult thing to do for someone as controlling as I was.

God and I emptied out the treasure box and filled it up with Real Treasure. He put in Love. His Love - a pure Love that is unconditional. A Love that said, “I love you even as the mess that you are. You are a treasure to Me and I delight in you.”

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) says,
“The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

I was not alone. I never had been alone. Even through my most horrible choices in life, He was right there with me, arms open wide and waiting for me to accept His Offer of Love. It took a long time to accept that Love. But I finally did.

Into my treasure box God, put Forgiveness for every wrong I had committed that hurt Him. EVERY sin!

Isaiah 43:25 (NIV) “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

He filled my treasure box with Acceptance. He accepted me as His very own. No matter what I looked like on the outside or even the inside, I was accepted by Him!

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

He then filled my treasure box with Healing. He worked hard with me to realize that I didn’t need drugs, alcohol or men to be fulfilled. He was sufficient for me. He was all I needed. He personally worked with me to slowly clean up the messes that I had created through my choices. I am still a work in progress, though. It’s not the end, but I have my Best Friend to lead me and guide me through this process.

One night, I imagined what I will do when I meet Him face to Face. I will get down and wash his feet with my tears and wipe them dry with my hair, my kisses never-ending on those scarred feet. Scarred for me. His hands would be next as I lovingly hold them and touch the imprints left by the nails. The nails He suffered for me. Then I will dance with Him, looking into His eyes and falling deeper and deeper into Him along with my love. Will He sing? I believe so, and I have a feeling that His voice would resonate in my soul, like a fine-tuned guitar string. Just the thought of being with Him leaves me in tears. He is the Love of my life; my Redeemer, my Savior, my Healer.

I have a treasure box on the corner of my desk. In it I have little cards that describe each and every Personal Touch He has given me over the years. I wish I could tell you in one writing all the Personal Miracles He has performed in my life. But it would take up a book!

And that is why I call myself the Treasure Box. I was empty and tried to fill that box with my choices, my treasures, what I thought was good for me. It wasn’t until He got a hold of me that it has slowly been filled with Real Treasure; His Personal Involvement in my life; His Personal Love and Redeeming Grace.

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

Today, along with my God, I walk with a husband who God chose for me, a wonderful Englishman with whom I share a business. My five beautiful children walk with the Lord, thanks to His guidance and because of His help. For the first time in my life, I love myself and know that God thinks I am beautiful. I am just the way He created me. I am accepted. He is my Source for everything, and I pray that He will become yours, too!

May the Lord bless you with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you, too, will get to know Him better!

Kat C - The Treasure Box

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Well where to start really, I’m 16 and have been a christian for many years though recently I’m so confused in many aspects of my faith. I feel at such a low in my relationship with God, It’s like I know all the facts I know God loves me etc but I just don’t feel loved sometimes and I don’t hear his voice, or when I worship I always feel like I’m being fake even though I’m not ( if that makes any sense) I just feel like a fake Chrsitian all the time but I know I’m saved, it’s so confusing, or I get irrational doubts about Christianity and ifind it difficult to pray ..Then there are other things in life which are confusing one a guy situation which just hurts a lot and is too long to explain, more recently I’ve started really not too like my body sometimes I just feel so fat even though I kno in reality I’m not, but then sometimes I just turn to food and eat it.. It just seems life is so hard at the moment.  I’m not sure if any of that makes sense it feels better to have said it all.

Regards.

Precious In His Sight replies…

Hi,

I want to thank you for writing into our website to “vent”. Sounds like you’re going for a ride on the “emotional rollercoaster”.

Can I tell you this, you are so normal!!!

You are not the only 16 year old Christian girl that is struggling with your emotions. We’ve all, at some point and time in our lives, struggle with our emotions. Hey, I’m 39, and I’m still struggling with my emotions. With my faith, with whether God truly loves me, I even have “guy situations” with my husband of almost seventeen years and oh girl, let’s not even go there with my body and whether I’m fat or what society has labeled as average or normal. I too love to turn to food in certain seasons of my life, and then when I’m done pigging out I feel all fat and full!!

Then I turn to the word that says: Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This brings my focus back to who I am and Who I belong to.

The bible tells us that we will encounter many seasons in our lives and their will be times that we come across many different activities under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

What you are feeling is truly normal and I understand. I may not be as young as you are but I was once. It was different back then but I had my challenges. You are even more blessed at your age than I was because you are a Christian and you are walking with the Lord. At your age I knew about God but did not have a relationship with Him the way you do.

Now, I want to talk to you on a few things that you wrote in about. First of all let me tell you that God loves you deeply. I know that you said you know that God loves you, but I just wanted to remind you of how much. Malachi 1:2a says: “I have loved you deeply,” says the Lord.

Sometimes we as Christians go through so many different challenges and we allow these situations to cloud our thinking, our judgment and our perspective on life. When this happens you are actually allowing confusion to enter into your heart and block your perception and bring doubt into your heart which will waver your faith, your trust and your hope in God. These feelings will allow you to second guess yourself and everything that you are doing for the kingdom.
If you are worshipping and you know that you are doing it from deep within, then don’t second guess your self and don’t allow the enemy to speak to your mind and tell you that you are being a fake Christian. You say that you sometimes don’t hear God’s voice, have you ever wondered why you can’t hear Him speaking to you?

Could it be because your mind is all fogged up with confusion?

John 10:4 says: After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.

John 10:27 says: My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Psalm 95:6-7 says: Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care.

Keep your mind free and clear from the things that are going on around you so that you would be able to hear from God.

You mentioned having irrational doubts about Christianity and finding it difficult to pray, what brings you to these uncertainties? Is it when you talk to someone or you watch something on t.v. or you’re around unbelievers and they cause you to take a second glance at your beliefs?

The word of God tells us that a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 When you watch the waves in the sea, they come and go, pushing forward and then just dissolving into the sand.

Is that how your heart is for God?

It shouldn’t be!

What you should do is pray to God and ask Him to show you the plan that He has for your life, and believe me there is a plan, His word says there is; Jeremiah 29:11. Also, ask Him to show you who He has included in His plan for your life and wait for God to send that person to you in His perfect timing and do not create relationships on your own.

I want to give you a few scriptures that you can read and absorb into your heart and when that season of doubt and confusion should arise, then you can speak these scriptures to those feelings and put a smile on your face, knowing that your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ loves you and died on the cross so that you would have peace and joy. Know that you are unconditionally loved by Him.

1Thessalonians 5:17, James 1:2-4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11-14, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 61:1-4

Sincerely,

Precious In His Sight

Forgiveness - of others
Forgiveness - of sin
Trusting God
Alcohol
Prayer
Patience
Anger
Fear
Depression
Some of the women of WeUsed2bu’s life verses and favorite scriptures and many more.

The Word of God has all the answers we need for living a godly life. It provides direction and teaches us what is right. It corrects and trains us so that we are thoroughly prepared and equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We pray that you will utilize our scriptures by subject section when you are in need of direction and encouragement.

If there is a specific subject that you would like to see included in this category please feel free to leave a comment below. We will gladly add the subject to our Scriptures by Subject category.

Click here to visit our Scripture by Subject category

Isaiah 43:25

John 8:36  - So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Psalm 130:4 - But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

Micah 7:18-19 - 18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. 19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Isaiah 1:18 - “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

Proverbs 28:13 - People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Isaiah 55:6-7 - 6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Psalm 32:1-7 - 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west,so far does He remove our transgressions from us.

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Acts 5:30-31 - 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Here are some other articles that may help you:

Forgiving Yourself…From Sins Of The Past Pt1

Forgiving Yourself…From Sins of The Past Pt2

How To Be Forgiven & Born Again

You Are Forgiven!

Click here to read other Scriptures by Subject

Click here to seek advice from one of our counselors

Thank you. But my sister says alot of annoying things I guess I could just walk away from the situation, but then how would she learn how to be less annoying. She just gets in my nerves so bad that I wish she wasn’t my sister. I know that wrong but I really just don’t know how to deal with her I have been praying and asking and asking and asking for a long time, but she is still the same,irritating person. Sometimes I wake up and I’ll say over and over, ” She is my sister. I love her and accept her.” Then she does something annoying and it’s like all the peace dissapears. I know peace means that you are calm in times of trouble, not you are calm when everything is quiet. I realllly want that but I really don’t know how to get it other than praying

P.S.

Thank you for all the bible verses. I will look them up.

His Precious Gift replies…

Dear Sister,

I see you still have concerns regarding your situation with your sister. Beloved by Him gave you guidance and many scriptures that would start you on your way to a better relationship, now it’s your responsibility to choose to love your sister unconditionally, which means \”Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves\” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. That is what the bible says about love, you need to choose to love on purpose.

Another thing that is very important is to guard what you say, the powers of life and death is in the tongue. Your words are actually building something in your sister’s life.

I suggest you start by changing how you communicate with her, start by saying things that will lift her up and will make her feel wanted and loved. I know if you try it you will see a difference in your sister’s attitude. I encourage you to start everyday with something positive and you will see what a change it will do in your life and in your sister’s life. Please read all the scriptures that where sent to you and start a new season in your live, we will continue to pray for both of you. You will be in my prayers.

Much Love,

His Precious Gift

Have you ever felt bombarded with the overwhelming ‘noise’ of life? Many times we are accused, made fun of, or caused to feel unworthy because of voices that attack us. Sometimes these thoughts can even be our own. It is my prayer that we can look to God’s Word for answers on how to respond when the ‘voices’ of this life try to tear us down.

Voices of Shame and Guilt

Many new believers struggle with the memories of past sins. The thoughts of shame and guilt can prevent new believers from claiming victory and freedom in Christ. For some, the idea that a Holy God can forgive and love them after the many wrong things they have done can just be hard to believe and accept.

How should we respond when the voices of shame and guilt attack us and accuse us of being “too bad” for God to forgive? I urge you to claim the promise of 1 John 1:9, which says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I love the visual picture that the psalmist paints in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, His precious, redeeming blood cleanses you from your sins and God does not remember them any longer. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!”

Voice of Fear

I have vowed over a million times to stop reading the news or watching it on TV. It is so discouraging! It seems like every news story is negative and causes me to feel fearful. I hear about abducted children, and I fear for the safety of my children every time we leave the house. I hear news stories of burglaries, and I fear for my safety during the night.

How can we respond to the voice of fear in the way that God wants us to as Christians? The psalmist writes in Psalm 56:11, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Our safety can only be found in the Lord. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand.” Hear God’s words in Joshua 1:9, which says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God wants us to rely wholly on Him and to tell Him about our fears. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”

Voice of Temptation

Another dangerous voice that distracts us from God’s will for our lives is the voice of temptation. Many times the voice of temptation seems to start innocently enough. However, once we start to listen to this voice and stray from God’s commands, only terrible things can happen.

When the voice of temptation speaks lies to us such as, “Come on, one time won’t hurt,” “Everybody else is doing it,” “You won’t fit in if you don’t do it too,” or “No one will see,” we must immediately flee from temptation. Temptation does not come from God, for James 1:13 says, “For God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” Therefore, the voice of temptation can come only from Satan. 1 Peter 5:8-9 describes Satan as he tries to attack us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Avoid going to places or keeping the company of people who tempt you. Proverbs 4:14-15 warns us, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by; Turn away from it and pass on.” Speak the Word of God to Satan, just as Jesus did (Matthew 4), when temptation comes. Lastly, stay on guard and continually in prayer to overcome temptation. “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Voice of Truth

I encourage you today to silence the voices and thoughts that tear you down, and to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). How do we take every thought captive so that we can hear God’s voice, the voice of Truth? The first way is to read God’s Word and meditate on it each day. The psalmist writes in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.” Psalm 119:105 says ,“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” God has given us His instructions in the Bible, and has so many things He wants to say to us through it!

Pray and seek God’s face each day so that you can hear the truth He is speaking to you. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” I encourage you today to claim God’s promises for your life. He loves you more than we can comprehend.

Remember, friends, the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, which say, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Read Melanie-Heart of Worship’s Testimony
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Hi, again. Sorry to bother you. I just was reading the part in Matthew where Jesus talks about the people who get talents and invest them and the one who barries theirs and then gets called out on it later. I know talents meant $ back then, but I’m guessing it was symbolic about more than just money. It kinda  freaked me out. Cause I’ve got a gift I’m kinda barrying. I’m a singer songwriter. And it’s kindof a secret. It’s something that I’m (not to be proud) but actually really good at. But, I’m scared to do anything with it. I’m usually fine with crowds. Public speaking, acting…easy. But, singing songs I’ve written just seems to personal. God’s been, through a lot of stuff lately, laying into me about sharing my music. But, and I know this is really childish, I’m scared to death. What should I do?

Precious In His Sight replies…

Hi Kaylie, I’m Precious In His Sight responding to your question on behalf of Heart of Worship. I first of all would like to tell you thank you for writing in to our website to get clarity on your feelings.

The versus of scripture that you were reading is Matthew 25:14-30. In Matthew 25:25 it says; ‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

Can I share something with you……

I too have a talent that I sat on for years, not really knowing what I was able to do it. My talent is writing, and I am actually a Self-Published Author. It took me a while to actually get the nerve to put together my writings in a manuscript form and then it took a dose of confidence to send it off to a Publishing company.

May I ask you this question, why are you so afraid to do anything with your gift of singing and song writing?

Is it because you feel as though people won’t receive what you have to give?

Do you realize that our gifts are not of our own, but they come from God Almighty?

God created a plan for each one of His children using those gifts and His intention was for us to carry out that plan, so that those gifts would be a blessing to us but mostly to others. For I know that plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Do you know how many lives you can impact from the positive words that you can write and sing about in a song. I know that when I am feeling down and out and I tune into my favorite Christian radio station or I slip on one of my favorite Christian CD’s, my demeanor changes because of the words that are being given to me in those songs. I applaud singers and song writers because what they are doing is changing the world through music. They are bring light and life to a dark and dead situation.

This can be you if you would only remove the light of your gift from underneath that rock and place it on a table and let it shine for all to see.
Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:15-16)

Sister, you say that God has been on you a lot lately about sharing your music. Maybe He has someone in particular that He wants you to share. A song with that sister that may be going through a hard time right now and your words would lift her person up.

My suggestion to you is to seek God in prayer with everything. In you asking Him to show you what He wants you to do with this talent that He has given to you. God promises us that if we seek Him, we will find Him and He will listen to our prayers and bring us to the place that He wants us to be and take us out of our captive hearts. “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord and I will bring you back from your captivity”. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

Your gift has power and it is given that power by God Almighty to change this world. I knew my gift of writing had power because I would first pray and then write out encouraging words and share it with my friends that had come to me with their issues. They were truly blessed by the words that the Holy Spirit had laid on my heart just for them.

Please know that you are blessed with such a precious gift and just as Matthew 25 talks about the servants being given the different amount of talents, don’t be that one that digs the hole to hide the talent. You be the one to take that talent and share it with the world so that it would reproduce and manifest itself into the hearts of God’s people just as He intended for it to do.

Remember that the enemy has many ways to slip you off of the path that God has carved out for you, and he is trying to win you over with low self esteem and fear. But you can and WILL rise up above the enemy! Know that whatever he has up his sleeve, God will take it and turn it around for His perfect purpose.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I want you to listen to the words of this song by Jesus Culture; “Your Love Never Fails”

Be blessed always,
Precious In His Sight

I need help. My skin is something that has been bothering me for a long time. I just don’t like it. I have acne here and there and uneveness and its gotten to the point that last year in school and even now I cover up my face to avoid people from seeing it. I have really low self esteem issues which turn into anger around those that I love. I’ve expressed this to my family and we went to the doctor on Thursday to get acne medicine. And just now they got me moisturizer and cleanser and I just got angry at them and Im not sure why. Im just mad at myself so much and feel like I don’t deserve anything right now. It makes my self esteem so much worse because I act like a jerk around people and especially the people who try to help me and I love most, my family. I just am tired of carrying this weight around with me everywhere I go, I just want to be free.

Heart of Worship replies…

Hello sister,

Thank you for your question! Your message spoke directly to my heart, and I share your struggle, sweet friend. I could have written the letter you emailed in because I, too, have struggled with acne for years and have been teased mercilessly because of it. First, I want you to know that you are worth far more to God that you can ever imagine. Psalm 139:14 says that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. God designed every detail of you before you were even born. Why then, did he design us with what we perceive as flaws? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that everything that God does is for a purpose. We may not understand it all now, but we just have to trust Him who knows all things. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

I think that especially as women, we feel pressure to look beautiful in our physical appearance. However, we need to be sure that rather than focusing on our outward appearance, we care more about the condition of our hearts. I love 1 Samuel 16:7 which says “the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Peter 3:4 speaks of “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” It is so easy to become focused on our physical ‘flaws’ and to become discouraged. I encourage you to take these times of discouragement to run to God and pray that He will open your eyes to see the beauty that you are! Your value to God is immeasurable! He sent His only Son to die for your sins and for mine.

I share your pain, sweet sister, in the discouragement that you feel and the feelings you are having of anger, embarrassment, and confusion. I know that in your heart you are grateful to your family, and it is easy to let the frustration you feel in regards to your skin manifest itself as anger or bad behavior toward your family. I encourage you to seek their forgiveness if this happens and seek their prayer support. You are not alone! So many people believe the lies of Satan that they are worthless because of various aspects of their physical appearance. Please do not believe Satan’s lies. We find our worth and our strength in God alone. As the psalmist said in Psalm 16:2, “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing’”. It sounds like your family is taking steps, such as the doctor’s visit, to remedy the situation you are facing. This is very encouraging that you have such great support! Please be sure to let them know how grateful you are for them. I know that they love you very much and will understand the pain you are facing.
1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all of our worries on God because he cares for you. Please take time to share with Him your pain and fears and to trust Him to use this time of trial as a testimony of his grace and strength. God can use you in a mighty way for Him! Proverbs 31:30 says “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

I will be praying for you and want to pray for you now.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for my sister who wrote in today. Thank you that even though we have never met, you have caused our paths to cross and connect in our struggles. I pray that you would open her eyes to the way you see her. Lord, I pray that she would know her value in You and that You would give her strength and encouragement. Please show her other people that may also be struggling with feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem so that she can be used to minister to their needs to Your glory. Thank you for seeing our beauty from within and please remind us of our worth in You. We will praise You for the powerful ways you will work in her life and look forward to hearing of the wonderful ways you will use her life as a testimony that Your grace is sufficient in our weaknesses.
In the name of Jesus we ask these things,
Amen

I also read a book recently that really helped me. It is called “So Long, Insecurity” by Beth Moore. I encourage you to read it if you have a chance because it is a wonderful book.

In His precious, unfailing love,

Heart of Worship

Dear sisters…first of all thank you for what you are doing. May God bless your labour of love and also keep you and all your loved ones on the narrow path.

My question is about Paul’s admonishment about women talking church where he adds that they will be saved in childbirth and that they should not speak in church because Eve was deceived and men are the spiritual head. What does he mean (especially when he talks about being saved in childbirth) ?

I have read many different explanations but I don’t want to feel like I’m explaining it away to suit what I want it to mean. I’m sure you must have thought about it before and I also wanted to ask it on here because someone else might be wondering the same.

Thank you and may God bless you

Precious In His Sight replies…

Hello my sister, I want to first of all say thank you for writing into this website. It is because of dear sisters like yourself that encourages us to stay in our gifting and want to continue laboring for the kingdom of God.

In your question, I assume that you are referring to 1Timothy 2:11-15 which says; Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

You ask what does Paul mean in these verses of scripture, especially when he talks about being saved in childbirth. My study bible (New Living Translation; Application Study Bible) explains it best; In first-century Jewish culture, women were not allowed to study. In these verses, Paul was offering women a new opportunity when he said that women should learn quietly and submissively. These women did not have enough knowledge or experience and that is why Paul said that he did not want them to teach. Back then these women had no formal religious training and they enjoyed their freedom to study Christian truth, but because they were so eager to learn, they were targeted and taken advantage of by false teachers.

2Timothy 3:6-7 says; They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth.

It is not so now. We as women have to be smart and have a discerning spirit in order to know if God is calling us to stand before a crowd and teach His word. There are many, many awesome women teachers of the day, and they have risen to a level in which they are able to bring forth the word of God with power because of right teaching and receiving wisdom and knowledge through God’s word.

Personally, I do not think that Paul was admonishing all women to just sit down, be quiet and not talk about God’s word. I feel that we as women should take our rightful and “God filled” place in this world and speak about His goodness, grace and mercy. God says in His word that we should; Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

To me this word is telling all of us to seek after God’s will and He will give us what we need. And, I take this as God talking to ALL of us and not just a particular gender.

As far as the second part of your question; being saved through childbirth, my study bible explains it this way; childbearing is a reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, and we are saved because of His birth. As Mary labored in her child bearing bringing forth our Savior, so do we as women labor in our servant hood, our submission to our husbands, our parents, our employers, and we also labor in our faith, our love and even in having self-control.

I hope that this answers your question and I want to share with you a website that you can read up on which talks about women being Teachers and Preachers. http://www.thewordoftruthministries.org/Women%20Preachers.htm

Be blessed by His word,

Precious In His Sight