#Faith & Belief

[indrosphere]

Unveiling the Legends of Madurai: The Tale of Peter Pandian

The vibrant streets of Madurai hold a tale of Rous Peter, the devoted Collector of the temple town in 1812. A divine encounter with Goddess Meenakshi saved him from disaster, leading him to commission golden stirrups as a gift.

[in-sightpublishing]

Why I couldn’t expose the biggest fraud

Publisher: In-Sight Publishing Publisher Founding: March 1, 2014 Web Domain: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada Journal: In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal Journal Founding: August 2, 2012 Frequency: Three (3) Times Per Year Review Status: Non-Peer-Reviewed Access: Electronic/Digital & Open Access Fees: None…

[occasionaltouhou]

theory: fairies are capable of generating their own belief and non-fairies misinterpret this as them not requiring belief to exist. they're nigh-impossible to kill because they're in a logical loop where they're alive because they believe they're alive and the reason they believe this is because they're alive. they tend to be stupid for the same reason because an introspective fairy could interrupt the belief loop and cease to exist. the three fairies are smarter than most because even if one of them briefly gets existential the other two still believe in the third enough for them to shrug and go "well I exist" and resume the loop.

evidence: in visionary fairies in shrine the three fairies and clown go to visit cirno in the middle of summer. she's a half-melted slush pile at first but they amp her up and tell her she's the strongest and as she begins to remember she's cirno (strongest) she reforms and builds up energy and freezes a decently large part of the misty lake in an outburst of power. she's unique in that she's cirno and she doesn't just believe she's alive but also that she's incredibly powerful but I don't think she's unique in that her self-belief or lack thereof has an effect on her (for lack of a better term) physical form (even if youkai and fairies are more conceptual than physical)

so fairy are just like, minor nature kami. like, right out the gate, let's put that on the table.

the phenomenon that you're actually talking about is something that i've mentioned before, and it's something that's been brought up a few times (mostly by kanako, who's the one actively utilising it) - youkai and kami can provide one another with faith, but not with belief. there's a fiddly but important distinction between those, because whereas faith informs how powerful a fictional entity (kami, youkai, etc.) is, belief informs whether that entity exists or not. you can believe in fairies, but not have any specific faith in any of them, which is how you end up with a bunch of minor nature kami who can't really do anything. the greater fairies (cirno, the three fairies) presumably just have that little bit more faith that comes from having a defined identity and being moderately well-known; and of course, as mentioned, they can provide little bits of faith to one another.

[nerdygaymormon]

Queer Mormons suffer from loss of Social Safety

Joshua Christenson is a student at the University of Utah. His undergraduate honors thesis involved research into how harmful beliefs, teachings, and messages from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affect members of the LGBTQ+ community who are or were members of the LDS church. 

About 700 people participated in the survey and the results are that exposure to harmful teachings led to greater depressive symptoms, scrupulosity, and a decrease in general health. (Scrupulosity is a psychological disorder primarily characterized by pathological guilt or obsession associated with moral or religious issues that is often accompanied by compulsive moral or religious observance and is highly distressing and maladaptive).

What I found interesting is of all the beliefs/teachings measured, the belief that uniquely predicted trauma was believing that one would be separated from their family because of their sexual/gender identity. 

Dr. Lisa Diamond was Joshua’s mentor and she has an interesting explanation for why that teaching especially is harmful. It’s the idea that I will be separated from the group, that I’ll be rejected by the people I love and want to be connected to.

Social safety is a sense of social connection, acceptance, inclusion and protection. The idea you’re part of a collective, you’re not alone. Humans are a social species and require connection. Being excluded from the group, being rejected, and left alone is treated by the brain like a physical wound. Social pain is pain. Occupying a space where you don’t feel safe leads to PTSD. 

This reminds me of the 2017 thesis by Brian Simmons at the University of Georgia which found 73% of LGBT adults who are or had been members of the LDS church have the symptoms of PTSD. 

The brain is designed to be afraid of rejection. The brain wants us to do whatever we have to do to remain in the group. The idea that sexuality, gender identity, race, and so on may interrupt a connection to others makes it feel like I have to choose between me and the people I love, that I cannot be authentic and still be accepted.  

Joshua’s research shows that some ways this message that you must repress yourself in order to remain in the group comes from LDS leaders is when they say not to focus on your sexual or gender identity, don’t speak to others about your sexual or gender identity, and separate your sexual attractions from your sexual behaviors. 

The way to counter this sense of loss of social safety is to repeatedly communicate I love you, I want you here, I’m always here for you. Remove any doubt or worry of whether I’m accepted, protected and loved. Amping up safety & acceptance for the most marginalized tends to increase the feeling of safety for everyone. If everyone in a faith community feels like I really belong here, everyone in that community benefits. 

Teachings about what happens in the next life, that some are going to be cut off from the body of believers, that doesn’t build a feeling of safety, inclusion and belonging. 

Parents also experience feelings of loss & trauma when a child comes out as queer because they fear being cut off from that child in the afterlife. A natural response of that parent is to want their child to stay in the church, or if the child has left the church then trying to get them back into the fold. This is a response to benefit the parent, not the child’s well being.  

Dr. Lisa Diamond and Joshua Christenson were guests on the podcast Questions from the Closet, 31 May 2022 (season 3, episode 16) 

[walkswithmyfather]

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” —Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)

“Faith is having confidence in what we hope for and being sure of what we don’t see. That’s what the people of long ago were praised for. By faith we understand that everything was made at God’s command, so that what we see was made out of what was not visible.” —Hebrews 11:1‭-‬3 (RAD)

“Crazy Faith” Devotional by Michael Todd - Day 2: “Now Faith:”

“I grew up as one of five brothers in a strong faith-filled family. My parents are ministers who have always modeled a life of extreme faith for me. In moments when most parents would have said, “I’m sorry, we can’t afford that right now,” my mom told me to pray and believe God for what I wanted.

She and my dad told me Bible stories of extraordinary faith all the time, and I would imagine myself as one of the characters. It built in me much more than a good imagination; it built a solid faith foundation.

I’m fully aware that not all kids grow up like that, but the beautiful thing about faith is that it’s never too late to build it. In many translations, Hebrews 11:1 starts off with these two words: “Now faith.” So I’m encouraging you now, at this moment, that now is not too late. As a matter of fact, now is the perfect time. Right where you are, you can begin tearing down the walls of doubt, pulling out the lies of pessimism, and removing the framework of fear so that God can pour a new faith foundation deep within you.

I am convinced that the foundation you should build your life on is faith in God and belief in His Word. God’s Word has remained from generation to generation. It has seen empires rise and fall. God's Word produces change, but it will never change.

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Take some time to assess your faith foundation. The truth is, you can’t build a skyscraper-sized vision on fixer-upper faith, and you won’t experience mansion-sized miracles with porta-potty principles. But let’s take it a step further. Think about specific areas of your life, and then rate your faith foundation for each one on a scale of 1 (vacant lot—full of potential!) to 6 (skyscraper—huge vision and daring dreams).

Your friendships, career goals, romantic relationship, health, finances, children, personal development, and any other visions for your future—each one needs to be built on a sturdy faith foundation. What kind of foundation are they on right now? As you look back on your list and ratings, remember that the exciting news is this is just the beginning of your crazy faith journey. Crazy faith is about progression, not perfection.”

[See Hebrews 11:1-40 in AMP here.]

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for June 3, 2023 Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 17:26-28(KJV): 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. 27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:26-28(Amp): 26 Also to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness. 27 He who knows spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit. 28 Even a fool when he holds peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.

Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and there I will meet with thee. Verse 26 – Those who have punished the righteous to deter others from following their faith have found that it backfires. Smiting those who are just, noble, and upright is not a good thing. Throughout history, those who have punished the righteous to make an example of them in some way made them martyrs instead, and in the eyes of the people, they become heroes. Their followers were inspired to fight even stronger for their faith and goals. Those who die for their beliefs are honored by others, even their enemies. It has been said that the church is built on the blood of martyrs. Many unbelievers, who witnessed Christians die for their faith were convicted and believed in Christ. This still happens. We can be a witness for Jesus by how we conduct ourselves under persecution, as well as by how we live our lives daily. Verses 27-28 – Many problems can be traced to speaking foolishly. Disrespect and loud words only stir up trouble. A foul mouth paves the way for many troubles, but even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps quiet. Those who use words wisely are known as people of understanding and an excellent spirit. Because sin easily entangles us, we need to be reminded of the truth. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). This is why the Bible repeats many things. Repetition is an excellent means of learning. It is not out of place here to review some principles regarding wise and foolish speaking habits: The mouth cannot utter what is not in the heart. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45). Proud, boastful words reveal foolishness in the heart (Jude 1:16). The wise speak constructively because they guard their hearts. They ask God to search them and bring to light whatever does not line up with His ways. They quickly resolve their anger and forgive others. They fill their minds with God’s Word and whatever is wholesome. They refuse to harbor bitterness. It is foolish to believe Satan’s lies instead of God’s Word. Unbelief leads us to utter negative things which can bring curses upon us. We need the Holy Spirit to help us ground our mouths so that we speak edifying things. When we line up our speech with God’s word, we shall be blessed.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your many blessings. As we face each new day, Lord, may we do so with an expectation that You will prevail in our lives and help us do Your will. Help us to guard our lips and speak things that are good and right. Let us refrain our lips from all evil. Lord, we want our tongues to be an instrument of righteousness in Your ears. I ask that You help me to keep my mouth shut when I need to do so and help me to open it and speak when You are prompting me to do so. Give me the Holy boldness to witness to others of Your love and grace, and to hold my peace when I should. I ask this in the Holy name of Jesus. Amen.

From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ, Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups Friday, June 2, 2023, Jacksonville, Florida., Duval County, USA. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA, https://www.facebook.com/StevenParkerMillerQ Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956, Twitter: @GatekeeperWatchman1, @ParkermillerQ, https://twitter.com/StevenPMiller6 Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gatekeeperwatchman, https://www.tumblr.com/gatekeeper-watchman, https://www.pinterest.com/GatekeeperWatchman1/ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981

[gummybugg]

Happy Blorbo Blorbosday, Bug! I have two questions today, answer one or both, whatever feels comfortable <3

1. Imagine your ocs in that awkward situation of having to introduce yourself to the new class. What would they say about themselves?

2. What religious and/or philosophical beliefs does your oc hold?

Happy Blorbo Blorbosday!

I'll answer the Second one, because my brain immediately went to Clementine, my fallen angel character! Probably because his title evokes a certain idea about the kind of person he is/was. You can find an excerpt of him here to kinda get a better idea of his personality.

I suppose Clementine believes/knows the gods exist because he's personally worked with them before, but does he have Faith in them? No, of course not.

Before he betrayed his superiors, he was a goody-two-shoes who pointed out those who were insufficient or slacked off. His role was a guardian angel of sorts, and he went on to protect/guide people through their dreams. Acting like a door-to-door salesman reciting the same stuff he's been told for thousands of years, just some shallow things he found himself believing less and less as he began questioning his purpose.

But that was the extent of his powers: he wasn't allowed to "tamper with mortal affairs," whether good or bad. All he could do was sit and watch while give his monologue.

He couldn't recruit enough angels, his power was dwindling, and he soon realized it was because he wasn't "doing things right." Where his colleagues used their powers to gaslight, gate-keep, and girlboss, Clementine was having none of that. He cared more about his influence/life purpose than numbers. So he amped things up: he started to pull an anti-hero stunt and scare bad people via dreams, which made him feel useful + gained him more subscribers recruits. I.e., if an angel tells you "Hold on, I'll take care of your bully for you," then there's a high chance both you and the bully would start having faith in the gods' powers.

But this was "Bad publicity" and not very "On-brand" for heaven, for those who found out his stunt. Clem became this "problem guy" who didn't fit into the same ideals the others had. He was outcasted and began noticing favoritism among the other angels. You know, stuff that makes your blood Boil in a corporate setting. But the scariest part of all: There is no HR in heaven! DUN DUN DUNN!

So where does that leave Clementine? Booted out of heaven and living out the rest of his days as a mortal. He could redeem himself and everything would be forgotten, but it's very unlikely Clem would want to forgive and forget the same people who went against their own beliefs and thought his ideas stupid.

So he roamed the mortal realms in search of a purpose and helped a few good people along the way. But then he asked himself if it was even worth his time saving people if the people he saved were just as corrupt as the rest. How was he to know who was "good" or "bad" by any standards, or even the standards he fled from? Yes, he was going through quite the mid-life crisis at the ripe age of 2000-something!

"The entire universe is made up of liars and hypocrites. What’s one more?" And so, our fallen angel decided to follow the path of hedonism until our story picks up.

[observer37]

I choose not to believe in free will

To reader: work in progress, an insane argument for determinism (hopefully). Expect Markov chains (?).

I don't like any of the arguments for determinism. One of them goes, "Things are either entirely in your control or not at all" and then proceeds to make a universal logic statement that makes sense, sure. It's actually a nice argument that resolves in to the same old "Liar paradox". I find something inherently unsatisfying about arguments that resolve into proofs by contradiction. When proving things in mathematics, you make assumptions and then you assume the contrary to what you are trying to prove. Then you derive an expression that satisfies all but one condition of your assumptions. This is inconclusive in the determinism argument. I think my core intuition is that humans behave in predictable patterns (see "Structural philosophy" in 'Chancing upon the Ubermensch'), and that is where deterministic trajectories arise from.

<...>

Everything under this is just rambling to try to figure stuff out. I can't make the rigid atheist claim as under, but my philosophical pursuits are all independent of any idea of "faith" because they serve isolated purposes.

I choose to make the following argument as if I do not believe in any higher power (hitherto referred to as THP) to rigidly sort out my thoughts on the non-existence of free will (or predestination).

random edit: lowkey morality and stuff is so hard to ground without belief in a thp. i feel blind in this - that I can't feel the presence of a God - are believers less lonely for it? I said this once : Despite or perhaps because of my non belief in free will, predestination, etc., I've realised that I have little to no control over how the tides of my opinions shift. I did not will my opinions in this direction, but perhaps out of loneliness or lack of direction - some days I prefer to feel like a puppet. I like to imagine puppet strings on each of my joints.

In times of higher personal anxiety, I crave social order and organisation. I want to be able to categorise people and I have a higher desire for control and knowledge. Conservatism looks tempting and gilded at such times. This holds for most people in a certain economic class wlog.

Every person's opinions have a certain amount of rigidity. Even the freest of thinkers and the most orignalest of thoughts are conditional. This is such a trivial thing to say, but just for the record - to everyone I talk to who thinks they're immune to ignorance.

I don't really know where to start with my history with free will. It intertwines heavily with my belief in THP. Let me try to amp it systematically.

I've been contemplating existentialism for the longest time, probably since I was 12 or 13 (which is like, 7 years, to be fair, so not really that long). But we must go back further.

I remember crying to my mom when I was 7 because I realised that she was going to pass away at some point. This was entirely driven by reliance and baby mammalian dependency. I remember the family dog dying when I was 5. I remember my paternal grandfather dying in 2014(?). I remember that while I was staying in my father's hometown for his funeral rites, the house had a litter of kittens and a bunch of miscellaneous cats who died one by one. As an adolescent, before I subjected myself to sufficient exposure therapy for war atrocities, unfair deaths and senseless killings, torture, unprovoked acts of heinous violence - used to make me uncomfortable and sad. I don't know why I thought this was a relevant place to start talking about free will. My point is though, I can't remember ever truly fearing, or more importantly, resenting death. It always seemed par for the course.

[albertfinch]

ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY

In this season, the Lord will activate greater levels of strength and power in the depths of the hearts of those who are faithfully walking in the Spirit. We will see people arise who know their God, who are strong, and who do great exploits (see Daniel 11:32).

MOVING FORWARD ON DESTINY'S HIGHWAY

People will encounter the majestic realm of the Lord. This will activate and establish them in the might, wisdom, and understanding of the seasons and times they are in, and as a result, they will know how to move forward into a season of advancement on destiny’s highway:

Weariness will be replaced with a fresh zeal that is fueled by the might of the Holy Spirit.

Fear will be replaced with greater dimensions and depths of the experiential love of Christ flowing in and through our hearts into the lives of others.  This will cause our root system to grow.

Faith will be ignited in people in a fresh way, and they will grab hold of the promises of the Lord for their lives! In a twinkling of an eye, years of hurt, delays, and opposition will be broken through, and their faces will glow with the Lord’s fresh oil.

We build expectation and belief for incredible new levels of the strength of God for our life!

As we enter today, pray, meditate, and affirm this key verse  from Ephesians 3:

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." — Ephesians 3:14–16

This is an eternal prayer that carries with it power to impart and activate in whatever era of time it is read and applied.

Here Paul says that we can be strengthened by might according to the riches of His glory. In other words, this gift will not run out but will, in fact, increase. What an incredible gift!

ANOINTED TO TAKE NEW GROUND

We are entering His presence with great expectation for our Christ calling advancement in mighty ways. As we move forward in this season, we are going to take new ground in ADVANCING IN HIS PURPOSE FOR OUT LIFE.  We must expect and affirm the anointing, which will keep us fresh in inner strength -- which will keep us strong in the Lord and His mighty power, as we are set to bear fruit that remains for His Kingdom.

As we stay fresh in the strength of the Lord by the might of the Holy Spirit, we will maintain high levels of faith, joy, and confidence. This is vital for us as we begin taking new ground.

As we advance in new levels of DESTINY we will face obstacles. But as we are strengthened by the might of the Holy Spirit, we will rise up against all obstacles, limitations, and fears. The Lord strengthens us and enables us to rise up against unbelievable odds. The fresh oil or DUNAMIS of the Lord will also empower us to have greater faith TO CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE THINK, due to our vision and great expectation in Christ -- to see the impossible become possible!   

"Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us."— Ephesians 3:20 AMP 

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The Call to Endurance

[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. — Hebrews 12:2 | Amplified Bible (AMP) The Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19; Acts 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 1:3

[indrosphere]

Kartabhaja Sect: Egalitarian Rebellion in Colonial Bengal

The Kartabhaja sect, a prominent aspect of Bengal's religious landscape, symbolized rebellion against social hierarchies. While embodying an inclusive faith and egalitarian principles, it later transitioned into Satima Dharma.

In delving into the diverse religious landscape of Bengal, one encounters a recurring theme of rebellion stemming from the lower echelons of society. Amidst the fervour of the Bengal Renaissance in the nineteenth century, championed by the educated upper classes, a contrasting religious movement emerged. The enigmatic Kartabhajas espoused modern ideals of egalitarianism and secularism, catalyzing…

[destinyimage]

Crush These 5 Demonic Lies that Sabotage Your Healing!

You might be thinking to yourself, I agree that with God all things are possible, but I’m not there.

And the way things are going, I don’t know if I ever will arrive to that level of faith. It’s been one attack after another, and I can’t seem to rise above it all. If this is you, it could be that your body is being buffeted by demons as the apostle Paul was, but you have not activated your faith for supernatural healing that flows from the throne of grace. You may be confused by false doctrine from the religious sector that accuses God of putting sickness on Paul, such as blindness, and that he endured with joy over this God-given thorn in the flesh against his body. Let’s bring correction to this false teaching so that you can be free from the ill effects of it.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV).

This portion of Scripture is talking about protecting Paul from becoming prideful and is not about God plaguing him with sickness or withholding healing from him as he begs God to take the thorn away from him. The “thorn in the flesh” is not sickness and disease such as blindness or any other type of eye disease, but a demon who buffets him—attacks Paul with one attack after another.

Many of God’s people believe that He has given them a thorn in the flesh—by which they mean an illness intended to teach them a spiritual lesson in patience and endurance and to draw them closer to God. This is a lie from the devil himself. And this type of belief turns many away from God. They blame Him for the devil’s work. It misconstrues their conception of Almighty God as one who does not care but is cruel and harsh and on the lookout for an opportunity to punish His people. In fact, with the payment of His blood Jesus purchased our healing for us at the whipping post.

But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, and He has carried our sorrows and pains; yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; the punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5 AMP).

Biblical Facts from Isaiah 53:4-5

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Jesus bore our griefs. This word griefs means sickness (Strong’s H2483). And what did He do with our sicknesses at Calvary? He bore them. This means our Lord carried them for us (Strong’s H5375).

This foundational portion of Scripture continues to explain what the Lord did for us. It says that He carried our sorrows, or He bore them for us on His back. And just what are those sorrows? Physical and mental pain (Strong’s H4341).

It goes on to say that we esteem or judge Him (Strong’s H2803) stricken, plagued (Strong’s H5060), smitten, slaughtered (Strong’s H5221) by God. Because Jesus was wounded, defiled (Strong’s H2490) for our transgressions—our rebellion (Strong’s H6588). He was bruised, crushed (Strong’s H1792) for our iniquities, our perversity, our sin (Strong’s H5771).

The chastisement, discipline, or correction (Strong’s H4148) for our peace, our welfare, health, and prosperity (Strong’s H7965) was upon Him. And by His stripes, bruises, and wounds (Strong’s H2250) we are healed, cured, and made whole (Strong’s H7495).

(These definitions are taken from the chart on pages 37-38 in Chapter 3, “The Power of the Blood,” from my book The Healing Creed. We will refer to this chart and the meaning of these powerful verses throughout this work.)

He Understands the Frailty of Humanness

Our Lord understands the frailty of our humanness. Remember, He chose to leave His God-powers in heaven and walk this earth in human form and, like us, face the same temptations and hardships and make the same type of daily decisions we face today: “Do I believe that with God this seemingly impossible situation can turn around? Do I deny this great healing power and cling to my human reasoning of unbelief?” Thanks be to God, He did not dwell on the impossibility of the situation but moved forward with great faith in a great God who empowers all who believe with healing power.

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin (Hebrews 4:15 AMP).

What a privilege it is to serve the living God who has experiential knowledge of the weakness that we face at times. The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NKJV), “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” While this man of faith was under great tribulation in his new life in Christ, he still was able to remain strong in the faith knowing no matter how the enemy came after him, his faith was not in himself but in Christ. This is where our strength to overcome the tribulations of this life comes from—even the power to walk in victory over that temptation of doubt and unbelief concerning healing of that disease.

Urgent Plea for Help to Believe

The people of this earth are in turmoil; so much has happened and continues to happen around us. It’s been one crisis after another with- out time to process, rest, and regain their strength. People are crying, weeping for the loss of what once was, what they once had, and more importantly, for the people they have lost. The pileup of grievous events has caused many to grow too weak in the faith to believe the promises found in God’s Word.

I receive many prayer requests, and this one arrives today: “Please pray that I may have the strength to believe God’s Word once again. I’m tired of wallowing in unbelief and doubt, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to believe what I read.” As I read this, I can’t help but think this is someone who has been beaten down by the enemy, the devil, and they are worn down and need a refreshing. This plea for spiritual help is not rare, but now common. If you are in this situation, I want to share with you what I share with this individual.

I’m not sure all that has happened to you, nor do I need to know, but I do know this: that the Lord will hear when you cry out to Him. He loves you with an everlasting love, and when you feel weak, He remains strong. I pray for you, for a renewal in your relationship with Jesus—that you will hunger and thirst for righteousness. As you read the Bible again, you will remember to ask Holy Spirit to lead you through the Scriptures, and you will learn to allow Him to speak to you, teach you, lead you and guide you, and comfort you. Knowing that you are unique (Psalm 139:13), you are precious (1 Corinthians 6:20), you are lovely (Daniel 12:3), and you are special to Him too (Ephesians 2:10). With a sincere heart, ask Him right now to help you through this dry season in your life, and for Holy Spirit to refresh you and bring joy back between the two of you.

Let’s pray about this right now. Father God,

In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus, I ask for Your forgiveness for waiting so long before reaching out for help. I don’t know exactly when things started to go sour between us, but I know that our relationship is not what it once was. I desire our relationship to be healed and strengthened. Holy Spirit, lead me back to my Lord. Help me to fall back into love with You.

Holy Spirit, lead me and guide me as I read the Word. Help me to see the truth and the reality that is penned within the pages of the Holy Bible. I long to see and to understand and to walk in the power of Your Word, in Your most holy name, I pray, amen.

I believe as you continue to call out to the Lord with an honest plea about what’s going on inside your soul, that barrier between you and God will start to come down, and that urgent cry for help to believe again will be answered. With time spent in prayer and in the Word, your faith will be strengthened once again.

Taste the Goodness of the Lord

You may have had a taste of religion, which has a foul flavor mixed with a bit of spiritual sugar, such as, “God is good, He loves you, but He’s testing your faithfulness with that cancerous tumor.” You see what I mean? It leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. It’s time to spit that out and get a real taste of the goodness of God, who has good things in store for you and truly desires to fellowship with you.

David prays this encouraging verse found in Psalm 34:8 (AMP), “O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; how blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.” We are to perceive—become aware of by personal experience—the goodness of God so that we can come to believe that His nature is good, and He only has our best interests in mind.

The prophet Nahum, in the book named after him found in the Old Testament, writes this about God’s character during a time of great tribulation for his nation, while they were being ruled by an evil king: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him” (Nahum 1:7 NASB). This word stronghold in Strong’s Concordance means a place of safety, protection and refuge (Strong’s H4581). The goodness of God provides these things for us, and in His presence is where we find His protection.

Psalm 84 is a beautiful psalm about the goodness and faithfulness of God. In verse 11 it says, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right” (Psalm 84:11 NLT). The author of this psalm speaks of the good things, the blessings of God that He gifts to those who enter the presence of God. He knows them, and He showers them with the necessities of life. Perhaps as you read this, you yourself are in great need for healing. Enter His presence with a heart of worship, be thankful for who He is, and allow Him to supply the need that you have.

Five Dangerous Lies People Are Taught to Believe

As you can tell, I am not a fan of religion, and quite frankly neither was Jesus. I have heard people share the most devastating lies that they were told by people who claim to be Christians and say they know the Word of God but spread the most outlandish lies to hurt people. I’m going to share a list of common lies that I hear from people needing a healing touch from the Lord.

Because you are sick, you must have done something wicked.

Just because someone is very sick does not mean they have done something wicked. Yes, sin does open the door to the enemy’s attack, but oftentimes these attacks of sickness come because we live in a fallen world. Jesus lets us know in John 16:33 (NKJV), “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” When He says that you will have tribulation, He means you will have difficult times. Not because God has designed your journey on this earth to be filled with bad things, but because you have an enemy, satan, who is bent upon your destruction. Jesus says this about the devil in John 10:10 (NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Supernatural healing is not for today.

This is an especially dangerous lie to spread. I wonder just how many people have died needlessly because of it. God says of Himself, “I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26 NKJV). Matthew 8:17 states this biblical fact, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” We can rest assured that He has not removed supernatural healing from His list of goodness toward us, as it says in Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV), “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” And again, in Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) we read, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Simply put, healing is for today. God has not removed His healing promises from the New Covenant.

My needs are trivial and unimportant to God.

You are important to God, and He cares about every detail in your life. Here’s a verse about how deeply He cares about the little details concerning you: “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7 NKJV). “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26 NKJV). And here is another portion of Scripture to help you know God considers you very valuable to Him: “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You” (Psalm 139:17-18 NKJV).

It’s God’s will that you are sick.

This is not what my Bible says! John writes in 3 John 1:2 (NKJV), “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” So the next time someone says this to you, you rebuke them and say, “No, it’s not! With the shed blood of Jesus at the whipping post, and throughout the entire atoning process, I have been redeemed, my sins are forgiven, and my body has been healed too” (see Isaiah 53:4-5).

Prayer doesn’t change much.

Let me be clear—not all communication with God is prayer. A lot of what is said is whining and complaining, and you’re right—that doesn’t move God. Only faith moves God. So when we pray, we are to pray in faith, without whining, complaining, blaming Him for evil, and without doubt and unbelief. This is what faith-filled prayers accomplish, “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15 NKJV). Now, this verse alone undoes all the lies mentioned under this subtitle.

Have you been taught a dangerous lie that is preventing you from receiving your supernatural healing? Take some time to pray about this question, write it down, and look up one to three verses from the Bible to undo the lie that was planted within your mind and emotions.

If God says it, that settles it! He declares that by His stripes you are healed and that this healing power is for anyone who chooses to believe in it. Don’t allow anyone to talk you out of your right to be healed in Jesus’ name.

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[automatismoateo]

Was recently told atheism is incel misogynistic &amp; racist. Is this just more religious projection? via /r/atheism

Was recently told atheism is incel, misogynistic & racist. Is this just more religious projection? Was on another sub & the subject of faith/religion in Star Trek came up. The creator, Gene Roddenberry, was openly atheist among other beliefs. A lot of fans of the genre aren't aware of that. Which I expect. But what I didn't expect is the religious side views atheism as an incel, edgelord, misogynistic, racist take. I've never encountered this on reddit or IRL before (I'm sheltered ig). My experience is quite the opposite. I am active in things like mutual aid IRL and the atheists I come in contact with are definitely not incels, mysog or racist. They are egalitarian, open, inclusive & actively anti-discriminatory. So is this a case of projection by staunch religious conservatives or am I missing something that shifted this window? I've never run into an incel online that wasn't a christofascist so I'm honestly confused. Submitted December 24, 2023 at 06:26PM by ColoHusker (From Reddit https://ift.tt/PYxZTKR)

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for December 9, 2023 Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 30:7-9 (KJV): 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. 9 Lest I am full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I will be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Proverbs 30:7-9 (AMP): 7 Two things have I asked of You (O Lord); deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me. 9 Lest I am full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God.

Thought for the Day

We have already seen that Agur began teaching Ithiel and Ucal by confessing his limitations, rhetorical questions, and statements of faith. He next instructed them by praying. The cry of Agur's heart demonstrates the kind of prayer that pleases God. Desiring a pure heart, he asked God to remove from him all falsehood and lies. Falsehood includes conformity to anything that is not true, such as false beliefs, ideas, or suppositions. “Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6). His prayer revealed the importance of desiring to know and conform to the truth that one might not sin against God.

Next, Agur asked God to supply his needs in such a way as would make him neither rich nor poor. His prayer taught his disciples to ask for their needful bread, much as Jesus taught His disciples to ask for their daily bread. It taught them that certain temptations come with both wealth and poverty, and to ask not to be led into those temptations so that they might avoid sin and honor God. Being full, whether of food or pleasures, can easily cause one to forget God, and become distracted with pleasure and things. It also causes men to trust and find their security in money instead of God. The greatest danger in poverty is desperation. Poverty hangs over people like a black cloud, causing fear, self-pity, discouragement, hopelessness, and depression. The desperate are tempted to resort to such things as stealing, gambling, lying, peddling drugs, or prostitution to survive.

Agur saw how both poverty and riches tempt one to turn from God. The Apostle Paul found that through the Spirit he could overcome those temptations; that he could do all things through Christ and be content, whether enduring need for the sake of the Gospel, or enjoying abundance. "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me” (Philippians 4:11-13). He learned to rely on God to meet his every need. God desires that we also learn to trust Him in all things. “Therefore, take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye require all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31-33).

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your promise of provision for our needs. Lord, deliver us from any concern or worry about what we shall eat or wear, for we know you will take care of us. Lord, give me the grace and faith I need to trust You to meet all of my needs. Forgive us when we have been wasteful or careless, and help us to be a good steward over all that You have entrusted to us. Lord, may we be as the Apostle Paul -- content with a little or a lot. We lean on Your strength to overcome all situations we face, and we are confident that we shall have victory in Christ's name. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ,  gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Saturday, December 9, 2023, Jacksonville, Florida., USA.  X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller198

[benevolentwoman]

Test the Spirits So You May Know!!!

God draws His chosen. This is evidenced throughout His word. And it brings a fabricated belief to mind. 

People may say, "Once saved, always saved". This is simply not true. Remember this, as spirit beings. 

Because God knows us in the Spirit. He knows our character. The thoughts and intents of our hearts. He even knows our eternal resting place. This is why He has no pleasure in those who turn back. 

This will be for anyone who believes that he is entitled to salvation because of who he is. And what group he may belong to. And according to how Satan has deceived him. 

This is why pride is so dangerous. Let me confirm this. And as I do so, know that it is not that God doesn't love His entire creation. He does.  But we are in fact, in spiritual warfare. And He knows those who would reject Him. Even before they were given a body. 

"For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE COMPASSION.' 

(Now this is why faith is so important.) "So then God's choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses- it is His sovereign gift]" (Romans 9: 15-16, AMP). 

If you receive this message, then it is of God. And if you don't, it is still of Him. Just know that I am coming to you in the spirit of truth. And from a place of love. 

https://benevolentwoman.com/benevolent-womans-vlog/

[sowninchrist]

Walk by Faith not by Sight - Part 2🌱🕊️♥️

Faith

2 Cor 5:7 AMPC, “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and diving things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.’

AMP, “for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—

Walk by Faith in this short three worded sentence, is how Jesus walked, in 1 John 2:6 NASB, “the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.”

Paul mentions something extremely important, from everything that he’s experienced in Eph 5:15-16 he wrote, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

When the Scripture says, to walk like wise not unwise men, it’s because by Faith, we have to walk in it, sometimes it will get difficult, but something that I’ve realized that a lot of people say is, Scripture won’t contradict Scripture. In Romans 12:2 CSB, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

but not only are we to be careful, why should we be careful? because of this,

1 Tim 4:1-2 NLV, “The Holy Spirit tells us in plain words that in the last days some people will turn away from the faith. They will listen to what is said about spirits and follow the teaching about demons. (2)Those who teach this tell it as the truth when they know it is a lie. They do it so much that their own hearts no longer say it is wrong.”

Discerning is a gift from the Holy Spirit, so when Paul mentioned that we walk by faith, we’re discerning the Will of God, we’re discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit and our voice, that we walk in the Spirit not in the flesh. So when we walk by faith, we’re relying on Him, we’re depending on Him.

In Proverbs 3:6 AMPC, “In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”

This is why, it’s important that we walk in Faith, in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Here are some of my favorite verses that speak about this,

-Hebrews 11:1, “Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

-Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”.

-Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

-John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

-Romans 8:18 NASB, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

This is why I love what God gave to John, in 1 John 5:14 ESV, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” This verse holds a special place in my heart because this means that He doesn’t withhold any blessings from us when we ask according to His Will, this is why when we ask according to His Will, our Faith grows because we’re putting God’s desires first.

One of my favorite verses is the one which Paul mentions of how God grafted us in, from wild olive trees to a nourishing olive tree, I absolutely love that verse because we see the mercy of God that He doesn’t give up on us when He sees we get stuck, He swoops in to help us grow.

God has the power to cut our faith, to put obstacles into our lives to make it grow. I remember telling my mom, that we ask God for trials without putting a thought into mind, and her reaction was priceless, that she asked me why on earth would I say that and I remember telling her.

When we want something, we don’t know what it takes to get to what we want, so when we ask God for things, He permits trials,

You want wisdom? God’s going to give your situations to use wisdom.

You want discernment? God’s going to give you situations to discern His Will.

You want joy? God’s going to give you situations to have joy and not allow other’s to take it from you.

You want Faith? God’s going to give you situations to grow your faith.

One of the best things to do for that is, ask God to prepare you for these trials, not just asking Him for what we want — this is something that I learnt before anything I had learnt from the Bible, by the grace of God, He helps when we ask for anything according to His Will.

Anything you ask God for, He will provide, but He will always test your heart so you’ll choose His Will by faith, and if you’re well abided in Jesus, you’re going to go through so many beautiful experiences that I pray God reveals to you in between the dark areas that He’s got you.

We know that it’s impossible to please God without Faith, if we don’t have the Son, we don’t have the Father, if we do works with no Faith, we’re in a dangerous place. This is why putting your heart where Jesus is, is important.

There’s a song that I love, but pointing out specific lyrics that tie to this.

“I put my faith in Jesus

My anchor to the ground

My hope and firm foundation

He’ll never let me down”

Basing this on each line of the song:

-Jesus is the perfecter and founder of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

ESV, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

KJV, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

-Jesus is who we put our hope in, the One who holds us down (Hebrews 6:19)

CEV, “This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.”

-Jesus is our hope (Heb 6:19), our firm foundation (2 Tim 2:19)

2 Tim 2:19 ESV, “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

-Jesus never let’s us down — when we don’t have a relationship with Jesus, it’s easy to focus on what we want, but we don’t see what He has for us so we’re stuck on what we want in the moment. But another thing is, that when we pray to Jesus, and we ask for signs or confirmations and they happen to align with His Will, that’s how we know that we’re walking in the right direction.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV, “And without faith it is impossible to please God,”