What is one of our enemies' most desirable tactics against us? Isolation. From each other and from our strongest reinforcement. What does everyone say when something unexpectedly good happens?
Thank God. < It was even in auto suggestions.
You don't have to go to church, you don't have to do anything that reminds you of unpleasant memories of organized religion at all.
Just look around and see what you like about life. What you love. Are you thankful for beauty, for love? For your dog who would do anything for you. For the breeze going by and handlebars in your grasp. For anything that makes you happy.
Just say thank you. It makes you stronger. It makes us all stronger.
Gratitude and Worship are two of our strongest and most reliable weapons against the enemy.
You can practice your religion anywhere. It does not need to be in a formal church setting. Many churches, religions, denominations have abandoned us by siding with the government for lockdowns, for pushing vaccines, social distancing, for preaching politics, and for caring more about money. Remember businesses, doctors, school boards/schools were paid or offered incentives to push the jab. All you need is God, you don’t need a formal church to be close to God. Follow the teachings of the Bible and practice the Ten Commandments.
My favorite aspect of prayer: Gratitude and Giving Glory.
Very difficult for the more skeptical, agnostic leaning amongst us. I was there forever - it's a bummer of a "lack of" feeling, and doesn't seem movable by one's known approaches to problem solving. Personally, I very sincerely asked Jesus to reveal himself to me as someone who had THE most difficult time accepting this fairy tale character as a Lord and Savior. He was kind enough to do so in a way that was enough to get me going, but not so overwhelming that I was immediately "all in".
Then I "faked it until I made it". I committed myself to praising Him every opportunity I could. I even went so far as doing a small exercise where I said His name "Jesus Christ" aloud, repeatedly to normalize what had once been nothing more than a curse phrase from my lips.
Full belief didn't come overnight by a long shot. It's taken years, but every day my faith is strengthened and deepened as a result. I'm finally in a strong place of joyous Faith, and it continues to increase. It's beautiful, and as a former agnostic it really cuts through all the chaf of life in a wildly satisfying, almost empirical manner.
I'm blessed and wish the same for all of my Brothers and Sisters. Hope my data helps someone find themselves. 👍♥️🙏
What a great testimony.
Wow that's inspiring. I'm about halfway through what you describe. My wake up was a big boost of help from the big white hat after I asked for prayers, right here a few weeks ago.
I don't necessarily know that it's difficult per se, at least not... in the expected since of difficulty.
For a lot of people, they get pushed away from the people who are clearly using religion as a weapon against everything that is deemed "bad", no matter what that thing is, or by people who overcompensate for their own problems by using their religion as a weapon AND a shield for their opinions, and do so in the most obnoxious ways.
That'll lead the skeptical to shut down, as there is rarely any logic to those arguments and it just sounds oppressive in nature which is not what religion is supposed to be about.
The agnostic are less of an issue, as most agnostics still live by fairly good values with a comfort that if God is truly omnipotent, you cannot prove nor comprehend it due to the nature of omnipotence. Agnostics rarely denigrate the religious (even if they tend to denigrate so-called "holy works") and are overall generally good people.
It's the full on, Reddit-grade atheists that are the biggest issue, as their atheism has led them to a hardcore theology based in rejection of Christianity and (sometimes, not always) Catholicism. These people are the ones who denigrate, destroy and justify their actions no matter how bad they are.
Especially this time of year. The weather is warming, the crops are growing, the flowers are blooming and the fruit is forming. It's glorious. Just take a walk.
If you are looking for allies, friends, and community you could hardly do better than becoming a regular member at a good local church. And more importantly it will strengthen your relationship with God!
I have one of the oldest (and most beautiful) churches in the country within a fairly lengthy drive. One year I'm tempted to visit from curiosity, as though I'm not as religious as other people, I find average Christians to be among the most friendly and (hilariously, contrary to what Reddit would have you believe and even what some people among us here on the .win network would show) tolerant groups on the planet.
It really helps when you show respect to people, something the left has really forgotten these days.
The other churches more local to me are racially based, of various different backgrounds...that do not include whites.
There's one other big church near me, but it is Catholic and I was not raised in a Catholic family.
My advice is to not judge a church on the beauty of the building. When I was searching for my church I went to all the gorgeous old buildings first, and never found a place where I felt like I fit in. The church I found is in a shopping center in a space that used to be a Best Buy or something. It's the most wonderful and welcoming community I have ever found, and the teaching is biblically sound and edifying. Best church I have ever been to, but you would never know it from looking at the building.
If you ever want to know the truth about any subject, just take whatever reddit believes and assume the exact inverse is true. May not be 100% accurate, but probably pretty darn close.
This is such a positive and uplifting post. Thank you for posting it.
It says in God’s word,
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, and supplication… With THANKSGIVING - let your request be made known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
It’s the Thanksgiving part that people forget about being grateful greatly increases your productivity, and quality of life.
Amen!
Great, positive post. I find myself doing a kind of meditation-prayer to God and listening to positive frequency music to elevate the consciousness and listen for His reply.
I did a bible teaching on living life with an " attitude of gratitude". I used scriptures and medical studies, and to summarize: when we continuously give thanks to God it results in a more positive outlook, more apt to take care of ourselves and helpful to others, but it also give a major boost to our immune system!
It was quite a few years ago but I'm sure I still have my notes and resources written down somewhere if anyone would like them.
Thank you.
MAGA
WWG1WGA
NCSWIC
Hermetic principal. The universe is mental, thinking about the world more positive, will in turn make the world more positive.