#How Jesus can help your counseling

[dkcdude]

Do You Want to Get Well?

In the fifth chapter of John’s gospel, we encounter a story of Jesus healing a paralytic man who had been waiting by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years to try to get healed. It’s easy to glide past this little narrative as another of Jesus’s healings or miracles in general. But instead of doing that, I’d like to pause to ponder the simple question Jesus asks the man before doing anything…

[yrrtyrrtwhenihrrthrrt]

Top Six Arcane Characters ranked in reverse-order of how much silly fucking nonsense they have to put up with throughout the runtime of the show

6. Cassandra Kiramman (daughter became a cop [I'm so sorry girl], daughter randomly goes missing for several days and breaks into her own house shot in the leg with a fucking homeless lesbian, gets killed by Zaun literally four seconds after being convinced to grant them sovereignty, and if there is an afterlife she had to watch her daughter crash out spectacularly using her very own initiative to gas the poor. Embarrassing.)

5. Ekko (every single Topsider he meets is next-level stupid and he has to hold their hand like a baby even when they are a literal genius. Had to watch Cait say "The enforcers aren't oppressing you guys that's not true :( !!" with a straight face, had to watch Jayce say "Oh yeah we put the hexgate here so that if it blew up it would only release dangerous arcane-gamma rays upon YOUR people so nobody who actually matters would die" with a straight face, had to find out the founder of the city that oppressed him his entire life was literally just a stupid old man with a banjo, Jesus fucking Christ. He is low on this list because of the amount of silly nonsense he subjected other people to, especially in the AU. Also he threw a time-machine bomb at God which wasn't so much something that happened to him but felt worth mentioning)

4. Jayce Talis (literally on a constant mission to keep his very fragile partner from killing himself through sheer scientific negligence and is consistently thwarted by either Viktor's impulsivity, the narrative, or him-fucking-self. Had to go to the shadow realm while Heimer and Ekko partied in Utopia playing the banjo and dancing to silly little songs and the first person he has the absolute misfortune to see when he gets back is fucking Salo I would kill myself)

3. Mel Medarda (practically runs a counsel full of idiots twice her age at like 25, himbo situationship's twink almost dies every time they try to fuck, has to deal with her mother ravaging twinks with her eyes right in front of Mel's salad, got kidnapped by witches for literally no reason)

2. Silco (Girldad who somehow, despite being one of the least mentally hinged people in the undercity, has an even less hinged daughter who so regularly blows things up and kills people that he scolds her about it as though she'd just snuck out past curfew. Has to work with a gaggle of dumbasses to produce and distribute his sterocainoin I mean Shimmer who regularly plot to kill him but are legitimately too stupid and useless to pull it off, his factory got randomly busted up and a bunch of his employees killed by an angry twenty-something with pink hair and also The Guy From The Fucking Posters [imagine Niel DeGrasse Tyson and a twenty-two year old homeless lesbian blow up your job like tell me you wouldn't have a stroke] and had to deal with a TREMENDOUS amount of nonsense in the AU where Ekko out of nowhere reminds him of his Most Traumatic Memory Ever and also the founder of Piltover blows up and his teenage stepkid is the only one who saw it happen.)

1. Sevika (Literally cannot ever catch a break for one second. Just wanted to help Zaun be free from Piltover and gets absolutely bodied by one or the other of Felicia and Connol's cursed fucking daughters every other episode in season 1, loses a combined total of like four??? arms, is forced to clean up the typically VERY bloody messes of her boss's unhinged daughter because he's such a pookie-wookie that he refuses to discipline her in any way, becomes the unwilling parent of two (2) mentally ill orphans, is subjected to Jinx's constant jokes at the expense of her missing arm (which Jinx is responsible for, by the way) gets given a political position as some form of shitty reparation when she is NOT a politician she is the guy who backs up the revolutionaries like miss girl just wanted to gamble punch people and fuck whores can you let her live her life??? Is one of the few people to survive and probably hates every minute of it)

[potatobugxo]

Hello! I saw your requests are open and I also saw that you did Mike headcanons (which were AMAZING by the way) so I was wondering if you can do the same for William? Both sfw and nsfw if that's cool with you. Thanks in advance🩷🩷🩷

awww thank you so much!! im glad you liked the mike hcs <33

🦋william afton sfw+ nsfw hcs🦋

sfw

you must be a special little something if william thinks you're worth his time <3

god knows how you met him, though it was probably through potential unemployment and you needed career counseling

well good ol' mr. steve raglan is here to help!

you catch his eye immediately, specifically, maybe its your quirkiness who knows haha

and hes such a silly little guy, how could you not fall for him on the spot?

he decides not to send you into the deathtrap that is the pizzeria, and instead gives you a job that completely goes against your skillset

psst, little secret, he wants you to get fired so you'll keep coming back to him for help

why would he want you to make money when he could spoil you himself? sure it hurts his pockets a little, but he's insistent on treating you to coffee shops, restaurants, etc

finds every nickname in the world to call you

"baby, honey, sweet-face" and his favorite, "bunny"

even with how mentally fucked he is, there's a tiny bit of goodness in there sometimes and only you get to see it ok???

you WILL have a collection of rabbit-themed merchandise and there is nothing you can do about it <333

pretty gentlemanly actually in public, likes to link his arm with yours, will ALWAYS hold doors for you, and he'll do it all with the cutest lil smile on his face

nsfw

boy howdy

he's very experienced, and he loves to show you a fucked up good time

absolutely knows what he's doing and likes to think you dont <3

i hope you have a knife kink because jesus christ

loves to pin you by your neck, whether it be your throat or from behind while he absolutely demolishes you

favorite place to do the dirty is his work desk 🤭 does not care how much of a mess it makes, as long as you're a mess after hes done with you

for the love of god call him sir or mr. raglan/afton he will quite literally pass away on the spot

daddy kink ok??? daddy kink <333

please yank him around by his tie and he might choke you in return <3

likes to stick his fingers in your mouth, loves it when you bite them and draw blood too

very much a masochist and a sadist 😈

loves when he fucks you to tears, wants to hear you whimper and cryyy his name

you'll have bruises on your arms, hips, legs, wherever he can grab jesus does he have an iron grip

likes to bite and nibble your skin too

oh yeah, he'll fuck you in costume too, doesn't care how weird it is

the springlock suit stays ON during sex 😚

[j-nor]

Hello fellow tumbler user janot, I have a pure breed fool and he has found a plastic gun, when fired a red cloth flag pops out with "Bang" printed in black lettering. I am greatly concerned about him having this vile object, it is against my pure Christian family and household. I am considering selling him to a butcher do you have any recommendations?

Hello epicsadman, as per Galatians 5:12, it would be impermissible to sell a clown to a butcher as killing a clown is akin to killing a child. If you truly feel that strongly about the toy gun, I would suggest seeking out couple’s religious counseling with your clown. Perhaps you can work out your differences with the help of a spiritual adviser. However, to offer my perspective, if God didn’t want clowns to have little toy guns that go ‘bang’, he wouldn’t have made little toy guns that go ‘bang’ so much fun to play with. Just as how god wouldn’t have made pool noodles if he didn’t want us to hit our snotty little brothers with them. If you really can’t find a solution, perhaps try replacing the flag that says ‘bang’ with a flag that says ‘JESUS OF NAZARETH’

I wish you the best and god bless.

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

Saturday Morning Session

Conducting: President Henry B Eyring

Press Forward Saints

Sustaining Vote

I Will Follow God’s Plan

Elder Niel L Anderson

Faith + Hope + Charity

Sacred and Eternal Hopes

Confident Expectations

Hope brightens the darkened room so we can see the glorious future

Hope is a precious blessing

If you have faith, then you have hope – faith is the substance of hope

Joy comes in Jesus Christ as we triumph over the challenges in this mortal life

Alma 32:21 – or just all of Alma 32

Nothing can darken our hope as we believe and hold tightly to our covenants

Every righteous person can receive every blessing

“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” President Nelson Oct 2016

His Joy is constant

As you trust in the Lord His peace will come

Our Hope is the Savior Jesus Christ, He is our Hope and our Triumph

President Emily Bell Freeman YW General President

In order for an ordinance to manifest the power of God in our lives it must be done with authority from the Son of God

We don’t just make covenant promises, we must keep them

Do you recognize how God’s power works within you? D&C 25

Women can fully access the gift of God’s power through priesthood ordiances

Emma was given revelation about how priesthood ordiances would work in her life

Who she was, and whose she was – her place in His Kingdom

Invited to walk the paths of virtue

You are an essential participant in the Restoration

Set apart to expand scriptures and exhort the church

Daughter in the Kingdom-> elect Lady -> Queen

The restoration and the Lord’s counsel to Emma will guide and bless us

We all get a chance to witness and use God’s power. 😁

Times we get to participate in the ordinances of the Gospel

Sacrament

Passing the threshold of the temple

Power of Godliness is manifest

Elder Karl D Hirst 70

He feels Heavenly Fathers love through the love he feels for his children

It’s wonderful that at times we can feel so fully and personally loved and noticed

If Nephi can call Jesus “His Jesus” we can call Him that too

God’s love is where we all overlap on the circles of the Venn diagram

What circumstances help you to feel God’s love?

We’re all Jesus’s favorite and we should all be our parents’ favorite, each of us.

Broken people, perfect love

However misshapen we might feel His arms are not shortened.

You are not beyond the reach of God’s love – He will never stop loving us

When you can’t feel God’s love, we shouldn’t consider the possibility that it’s because God has stopped loving us until after the mountains and hills have gone.

There are different ways of feeling and receiving divine love.

Looking at the starts

Feeling the rain on your skin, or a breeze

Music

Keeping a journal

Ask people you trust to share how they feel divine connection

If you could choose a place for you and Jesus to meet – He may have already found you there.

If you are waiting for Him to come, He may already be there within reach

Hold onto God’s love as effectively as a sieve full of water. When you share it, this can help you feel joy.

Joy is our purpose not the gift of our circumstances.

How Firm a Foundation

Elder Dale G Renlund

The story of Nobel and nitroglycerin turning it into dynamite

Undiminished explosive power

The Gospel provides powerful and transformative benefits for us

The combination of Christ’s Gospel, and the Church of Jesus Christ

The church is not a location or a building – it’s the people

The church is an instrument

Keeping our covenants provides us access to God and transforms us

The church is special only if it is built on His gospel.

The church enables access to God’s power because it’s authorized by Him to teach His gospel and offer His ordinances

Jesus Christ wants nothing more than for us to repent and come unto Him so He can sanctify us. He is relentless and unwavering.

Immerse yourself more fully in the church and the gospel – this is God’s dynamite and with it He will transform us

Elder David P. Homer 70

We have a loving Father in heaven who will care for us wherever we are no matter the circumstances

The boundaries between right and wrong are not for us to define – they were already established by God

While some things may depend on context, not everything does.

Don’t be surprised if our personal views are not initially in harmony with the teachings of God’s prophets. – in time you will receive more spiritual clarity

If we heed God’s word, we will receive more. If we ignore God’s counsel, we will receive less and less until we have none. This does not mean that God’s will is wrong, just that we have lost the capacity to understand it.  

D&C 6:36

Look unto the Lord before acting; our faith will overcome our concerns.

Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.

Don’t let doubt stop us from seeing God’s divine gifts in our lives.

God loves us wherever we are, whoever we are. In any circumstance you can cry out to Him “oh God, help thou mine unbelief”.

The submission of one’s will, is one of the only uniquely personal things we have to bring to Christ

Our agency is not diminished by staying with Christ it is magnified.

We can be of good cheer as we trust Them more than anyone

Elder Gregorio E Casillas 70

What does our Heavenly Father desire from us?

It is crucial for us to learn to be disciples of Jesus Christ

He uses us to help bring His children to Him

Service shows us charity

Story of the mother who had had chemotherapy the day before and so did not have the energy to take care of her disabled son

Your spiritual abilities are unique and personal

Follow the impressions of the Spirit – God will bless your life, he will bless your family, he will bless his children that you encounter

We have the privilege to watch over people who need a helping hand, and embrace a feeling of comfort, or simply for us to be with them in silence

The Savior always reminds us as oft as we repent and seek forgiveness with real  intent, we will be forgiven.

Get rid of destructive thinking. Keep hope!

Give someone hope enough to try once more ourselves.

Be the reason someone has hope in crappy situations

The Lord Jesus Christ is your savior and knows you personally

The Holy Spirit will revive us

God’s Gracious Love

President Dallin H Oaks

Come Follow Me

Following Christ is not a casual or an occasional practice

Obey what He defines as the great commandment in the Law: Love the Lord thy God with all they Heart, love thy neighbor

If you cut the string off a kite it will not fly. That string is our covenants – keeping them enables us to soar to celestial heights

Keep you connection to your celestial ties.

We covenant each Sabbath during the sacrament to always remember and keep His commandments

Faith, repentance, baptism, enduring, and becoming as a little child (trust the Lord)

Temporary commandments are for the needs of the Lords church to be set aside once the need has come to pass

Pioneers

While still in force these commandments are still to be obeyed

Law of Tithing

Needed re-emphasis

Proclamation to the Family needed re-emphasis recently

Avoid contention

Jesus’s doctrine is not one of contention

Matthew 5:44-45

Show unselfish love for all

Blessed are the peacemakers – true disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers

What are you going to choose? Contention or reconciliation?

Sermon on the Mount

Follow the golden rule

Love and do good to ALL

Does not mean to compromise our principles and priorities, but to STOP ATTACKING PEOPLE FOR THEIRS!!!!

Will you allow His voice to take priority above any other?

Let us seek to be holy like our Savior

While we advocate for our positions let us qualify for the blessings of Jesus Christ as peacemakers

Teach Me to Walk in the Light

[spurgie-cousin]

I’m sorry, Austin wrecked his truck and Joy felt that she still had to CALL HER DAD to ask if it was ok to go to him because she would have been unchaperoned??? And then she didn’t go? So Jim Bob must have said “no?” So was Austin trapped in his wrecked truck getting assistance from the person who caused the accident while Joy continued driving to meet with Jim Bob? Girl that would have been an “act now, ask forgiveness later”, “Jesus would have helped a person in need and not waited for a chaperone” type of situation.

Also maybe it’s just me speaking from a secular, over the age of 30, “my every decision is not influenced by someone with authority over me” perspective, but if the roles were reversed and teenage me had just wrecked and called my boyfriend-soon-to-be-fiance and he said said “I’m gonna drive ahead to wait for my dad and we’ll both come back”, I’d probably have rethink the relationship. (My parents alone would have raised HELL at my bf and his dad on my behalf) Because how are you just going to leave me alone in my wrecked car for an unknown amount of time because your dad didn’t give you permission to come back alone? They both mention how he could have died, so it had to have been a serious accident? Could have come back to a lifeless body but thank heavens you brought a chaperone with you so the corpse of your betrothed doesn’t cause you to stumble? I don’t really want to be hard on Joy like that because she was 18/19 and probably in a state of panic and in need of help but damn and yikes.

Also hella curious to know who the shithead brother was and I cannot fucking believe that he’d look back at his own sobbing daughter, who grateful that her future fiance is alive and have the balls to side with her brother and tell her “let go of him”. Although he sided with the oldest son all of those years so I guess I can’t be too surprised he continues choosing his sons over his daughters.

I cannot fucking fathom how any of the rest of his older children remain in contact with him.

I think all of that speaks to how important it was for the kids to follow the Duggar "rules", especially the girls when it came to the opposite sex. The girls can insinuate that they followed those courtship rules just out of "respect" all they want, but if that were the case, I don't think Joy would've thought twice about going to see that her soon-to-be-husband was ok after a literal car wreck. If it were all just about "respect", you'd think there would be understanding on her parents' end during a freakin life or death emergency, but even then Joy was still concerned enough to make sure it was ok with her dad. Which to me means there would've been consequences for her otherwise. Not only that, but it was considered serious enough that a younger sibling felt like they needed to call her out on it (and like you mentioned, Jim Bob apparently agreed).

I just get so frustrated at the way the adult Duggar kids talk about their parents, especially in situations like this where they're literally sitting down to talk about religious questioning, trauma, struggles, etc. They always address the consequence of being raised by JB and Michelle, like having nowhere to really go for religious questioning, without addressing the cause: their parents' choices and actions. There is rarely any accountability given to JB and Michelle and that drives me up a wall.

I think they do that because unfortunately, JB is still that morality cop in their brain, and it's just easier to not talk about it. I hope it's something they've all at least addressed in counseling (even Christian-based counseling), but I have a feeling deconstructing that part of their lives would put a real crack in their foundations, which would have ripple effects in every single area of their lives. And to be fair, that is daunting for anyone, and it is a reason a lot of people stay indoctrinated, but god I wish just one of them ONE TIME would say "You know what, this sucked, this wasn't great for me, and I wish my parents would've had more empathy for me as a person at this moment" y'know?

Edit: Jill Dillard is better about this and has at least called her dad's financial abuse out, that is true. I will say though, it does still seem really hard for her to be candid about other areas of her life and upbringing even when she tries (like in the Duggar doc series), and I think that's because JB still has some relationship/influence over her. I genuinely think the only way any of them could be 100% open and honest is cutting him off.

[l8rs-gat0rs]

Okay I literally just found your account with your post talking about Billie in SWARM I WEN ABSOLUTELY FERAL YOU DONT UNDERSTAND SHE IS ETHREAL

…okay anyways I have a request

So what if you end at the group’s house and you get the counseling cause like you have bad anxiety and social anxiety and you just push everyone away and run from your problems so that’s essentially how you end up at the house. And then you end up wanting to leave like Dre did but it’s because you don’t think that they can help you. BUT Eva convinces you to stay and like you slowly fall in love…or something..maybe add some smut. Literally add anything you want I am just so excited to read it♥️

Save Me From Myself

Pairing: Eva x Female reader

Wow thank you so so much for this request! I actually have social anxiety so I am excited to write about it. Also trust me, I went feral too. She is definitely ethereal. The sexual tension she had with Dre was crazyyyy and she's such a good actress, the micro expressions and everything really got me. I didn't put smut into it only because it feels more like a soft fluff story that doesn't really need any smut, so I hope you're okay with that :)

Warning(s): angst, social anxiety, general anxiety, slow burn, y/n use

summary: You have social anxiety and Eva has been helping you with it. After messing up a game of Twister, you feel like you can't be helped so you decide to leave. Eva stops you from leaving, which leads to a confession...

Word count: 2k

Disclaimer: I have never talked to a therapist abt my anxiety or social anxiety at all, so If some things aren't accurate I apologize, but I'm just writing down what I have experienced and how I interpret it.

Special thanks to @hereforthepoet for helping me with this fic :)

~~~~Happy Reading!~~~~

You lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, replaying the story of how you ended up here over and over again in your head.

Eva had found you when you were a blushing, stuttering mess trying to speak to the waitress in a restaurant.

Were you blushing out of embarrassment? Yeah.

Anxiety? Yeah.

Because she was hot? Absolutely.

Eva smiled at you when you looked up from your head in your hands and made eye contact with her while she was sitting at a table facing you.

You groaned and shoved your face back into your hands because yet another hot woman had seen you embarrass yourself.

When you looked back up you jumped a little, seeing as Eva was now right in front of you.

The two of you had food together, Eva noticing your stuttering, rambling and fidgeting with your rings. The tell-tale signs of your anxiety.

You told her about how you managed to push everyone in your family away after your parents died, you were an only child so there weren't many people to push away, but still.

You lived by yourself in a tiny apartment, you were thinking about getting a cat, but then, Eva invited you back here with promises to help with your anxiety.

But here you were, in the bed, Eva had lent to you.

You felt like a lost cause, all the other girls in the group had shown major signs of progress over the course of a few weeks, but you were still here, holed up in your room because you could barely even talk to the girls, despite the fact it had been almost a month already and you have had numerous sessions with Eva.

You heard a knock on the door and you mustered a small "Come in."

You looked up and saw Eva walking through the door, causing your heart to race.

Come on y/n, don't embarrass yourself in front of her for the 10,000th time, please.

"Hey y/n, why aren't you out there with the rest of the girls, we're playing twister right now."

Don't stutter.

"Oh- uh, I don't know, I'm don't-

wait. I mean I don't-

I- I'm NOT feeling that great, I guess."

Jesus Christ.

She looked at you for a moment before walking closer to your bed and sitting down on the corner of it, by your thighs.

"Remember what I told you during our last session y/n?" Eva started, as she leaned over you, bracing herself up with one hand on the other side of your thighs, and using the other to check your temperature.

Your brain short-circuited as soon as you felt her skin against yours.

"I told you, the reason you stutter is that you either rehearse what you are going to say over and over in your head before saying it, or you think so fast that the words mess up when you try to say them out loud. Either way, you need to focus on what you want to say rather than thinking of all the ways you could say what you want to say."

"Yeah, I know..." Uou muttered.

"Well how can you be working on it when you don't even hang out with the rest of the girls?" Eva smiled patiently.

"I'm working on it, I just..." You trailed off, looking anywhere but Eva's eyes.

"Hey, eyes," Eva said, causing your eyes to immediately shoot to hers.

"Good girl. Now, why don't you come out of your room and join us." Eva got up from the bed and held her hand out for you to take it.

Your stomach turned at the Praise but you ignored it.

You took Eva's hand and picked yourself out of bed.

Eva didn't let go of your hand as she led you out to the living room. You willed your hand not to get sweaty.

"Hey guys, look who's here!" Eva announced to the group.

"Woooo y/n!" Cricket cheered while holding the spinner.

"Come, join us!" Isis urged, smiling at you from under Salem's arm.

You looked at Eva uncertainty, but she just gave you a patient smile and nodded, urging you to join them.

"Uhh, yeah, sure." You nodded, looking back at the pile of girls twisted around the mat.

Your heart started to beat rapidly.

Come on y/n, you cant be the one to fuck up the whole game.

Don't lose, don't lose, don't lose....

"Okay y/n, let's spin for you."

"Right leg green!"

You moved your right leg to the open green dot.

"Eva, want to join?" Cricket asked as she spun the spinner.

"Nah, I'm good. I like to watch" Eva said with a smirk.

You shivered at her words even though it was a normal comment.

Jesus Christ y/n get a grip. She's your mentor.

But she had also been the one holding your hand through the entire process of trying to get over your anxieties.

Did you have feelings for her?

"Left foot red" Cricket called out to Grace.

"Don't fuck it up!" Audrey laughed, balancing on one hand.

"Shut up!" Grace responded playfully, before carefully placing her foot down.

"Bam!" She cheered, causing the other girls to giggle.

You smiled a little but the tension would not leave your chest as the game continued.

The girls keep playing as normal, each taking their sweet time moving to their respective places while the others urge them to hurry up. You're trying to focus, to stay present, to participate...but all you can think of is the loud beating of your heart. How the girls' laughter fades and your consciousness seems to trade places with your subconscious; "They're only letting you play out of pity." "You need to leave before you embarrass yourself." "You look ridiculous standing like this and they know it, they're all thinking it." You vaguely hear directions for someone's turn being called but there's a water-like roaring in your ears and your palms are sweaty and-and-and-

"Y/n!? Right hand yellow?"

"What?"

You can't think slow enough, you can't move fast enough, your body is shaking and- 

Everyone's falling. A twisted mess of loud laughing bodies and you can't breathe.

"Y/n? Are you okay? Breathe!" You hear Eva say.

You shoot up from the pile of girls and suddenly the laughter has died and they're all looking at you with concerned expressions.

Staring.

They think you're pathetic.

You're so embarrassing.

"I can't do this anymore!" You suddenly shout through your heavy breathing.

"Woah, it's okay y/n-" Cricket starts, putting the twister spinner down.

"No, it's not! Look at all of you! You're getting better every day. But me? I'm hopeless. I can't even play a game of twister without fucking it up! I can't stay here any longer. I've overstayed my welcome and I can't be helped. I'm too broken." You said before turning away from them.

You heard the girls start to protest and get up but out of the corner of your eye you saw Eva shush them and make them sit back down. Tears started spilling from your eyes and you ran to your room.

When you got to your room, you took your suitcase out of your closet and opened it on your bed.

You started to pack when you heard Eva's hurried footsteps approach your door.

"Y/n, what are you doing?" She said sadly.

"I'm leaving. I can't stay here anymore" you were unable to look at her so you continued quickly packing.

"Hey. Stop." Eva said as she gently stopped you from going over to your suitcase with the clothes in your hand.

You stopped and looked down at the floor, still unable to look at her.

"Look at me. I wanna see those gorgeous eyes." She gently grabbed your chin and turned your face to look at her.

"Here, give me those," she took the clothes from your hands and put them on the other bed that was next to yours.

"Sit." She guided you to sit down next to where she left your clothes.

You sat down and took a shuddering breath in as tears continued to fall and your lip quivered as you silently cried.

"You're even gorgeous when you cry." Eva smiled, causing you to let out a choked laugh as you tried to halt your tears.

"You're just saying that" You felt your face heating up.

"No, I'm not. don't degrade yourself like that. You are truly beautiful, and I'll keep saying it till it gets through your pretty little head." She got on her knees in front of you and put her hands on your thighs.

You looked down at her hands on your thighs, hyper-aware of her touch.

"Y/n please don't leave." Eva spoke up somberly.

You looked back to her eyes before responding.

"I- I can't Eva. My thoughts are so confused a-and I can't be helped. I don't deserve to stay here." You sniffed as your tears subsided.

"That's not true! Everyone is able to be helped, some people just have a longer process than others. Also, even with all the facts considered, you're here because I want you to be, not because you're a patient or something." Eva explained.

"Yeah, I guess...but I'm still...c-confused." You internally cursed yourself for stuttering and you looked down back to her hands that were still on your thighs.

"About what?" She smiled softly.

You sighed heavily trying not to stutter.

But of course, you did.

"Y-" You sighed in annoyance as Eva looked at you expectantly.

"Y- You!" You managed to get out, causing Eva to let out a laugh.

"You're confused about me?" She asked with a smirk.

"Yes! Why is that funny!?" You huffed.

She laughed a little again before responding.

"It's not, it's not, Why are you confused about me?" She asked you curiously.

"Well, I- I don't know. Just...my feelings towards you..." You said more quietly.

Eva's hands rode a little higher on your thighs causing your eyes to widen for a second before you steeled your expression.

"And what are you currently feeling towards me?" Eva asked, staring down at your lips.

"Attraction" You breathed out, getting lost in the way she looked at your lips.

"And, that's a bad thing?" She smirked, her eyes looking back up to yours.

"I- I mean no! But like, you're my mentor or whatever. I shouldn't be feeling attracted to you. Right?" You backtracked.

"Who said that?" She laughed.

Wait, that's true...

"Uhhh, no one I guess. It just- I don't know I thought it might be wrong or something. You never dated anyone else here." You gestured to the door.

"Who says I didn't?" Eva smirked once again.

"O-Oh! I'm sorry I didn't mean to assume!" Your eyes widened.

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Eva smiled.

"S-so, who was it?" You said quietly after nodding.

"Isis, it wasn't very long though. We both decided we were better as friends" Eva shrugged.

"Oh, I see." You said, mulling over all the interaction you've seen Eva had with Isis.

"But back to your feelings?" Eva urged you to continue with her brows raised and a questioning tone.

"I guess, over my time here I've been slowly falling for you and...I've tried to suppress it, but I guess, the feelings have always been there, bubbling up,"

You sighed once again before continuing.

"I mean, I don't know... You're just so...." You started, before looking at Eva and feeling your face heat up.

"Go onnnn." Eva urged.

"Hot." You ended quietly.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you!" Eva said loudly.

"Oh shut u-"

Before you could finish your reflexive response, or even have time to be anxious about it, Eva pushed up off her knees and kissed you.

You were shocked at first but you quickly closed your eyes and melted into her lips.

You couldn't lie and say you hadn't thought of kissing her multiple times.

Once Eva pulled away she sat back onto her knees.

"I can't lie, I've thought about kissing you so many times." She let out a breathy laugh.

"Woah did you just read my mind?" You pulled back shocked.

"What?" She looked confused.

"Nevermind,"

You shook your head before continuing,

"Okay, back to kissing."

"I think..." You added shyly.

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Will We Listen?

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ Matthew 15:20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally, they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.

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SUBJECT: Will We Listen?

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM OBEDIENT

I AM BEAUTIFULLY, WONDERFULLY MADE

I AM POWERFUL

I AM HUMBLE

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READ TIME: 7 Minutes

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THOUGHTS:

======================

 Jesus wanted his disciples to know about the hard times they would face. A lot of us don’t get warnings about what will happen in our lives, and maybe some of us do, and we ignore it. I can remember my parents telling me; you're going to wish for days that your back sitting under my table and not having a care in the world because life is tough. I remember thinking to myself I won't, and as I got older, I wished every day to go back to being a kid and not having a care in the world; I didn’t realize how life can be tricky and dealing with life would be challenging,   

   As I gave my life to Jesus, he makes it so much better. And some of us lack that in our lives; we lack guidance and truth, and Jesus can give us this if we listen to Jesus and he can comfort us if we let him. It's about letting him guide us; he guided his disciples because they wanted that from him. Do you desire that from Jesus

  Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

  God can instruct and teach us, but will we be willing to learn? He even said in a verse if they will listen to me, they will listen to you, a lot of people heard Jesus speak, and a lot of them didn’t hear anything he had to say, but Jesus made sure anyone that had ears could hear him, but it’s a difference in hearing someone and listening, I can listen all day but am I hearing, & am I applying what they say, Jesus was willing to teach, but not everyone was willing to change their ways to adapt to his ways, God is trying to get us to adapt to our new lives with him but are we hearing him.

  Isaiah 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or turn to the left.

  We can hear him now telling us which way to go, but a lot of us don’t want to listen because we think the way he is telling us isn’t right or the way he is telling us could be wrong, and I'm going to be transparent I have had those days were I didn’t listen, but as I got older I regret being stubborn, we must ask God to help us to release us from the spirit of stubbornness and disobedience, God can't make us change, but he can get it where we see we need to ,he can show us that its best we do, but until then we will never hear him and do what he said until we realize we need him, I realize that I need him in my life and I can't do anything without him going forth in my life , the lord loves you and wants you to follow him in everything you do

 John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

  If we call ourselves God's sheep, we must hear and follow his voice. Many of us say we are his, but do we listen to him when he whispers, don’t say that, or don’t do that? We allow our ways to take over then his. And he also says, and I know them, Jesus knows the ones that are trying to strive to do what is right, and he knows the ones that do what’s right just to get a blessing; he knows we are just doing that to get what we want, we can’t fool God we can fool man, but we will never fool God.

  John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

  Some of us have gone so long and have ignored the voice of God that now we don’t hear anything, and the reason is that we have ignored him repeatedly, and the word tells us the reason we don’t hear him it’s because we aren’t of God. Every day, we must place ourselves in the presence of God and allow ourselves to soak in his presence. Do you soak in his presence?

  ***Today, we learned how our stubbornness and disobedience could cause us not to hear the voice of God; we sometimes go through seasons in our lives where we ignore God's voice, but we shouldn’t; this is how we know when we are wrong and when we are right the lord is trying to guide us, but if we continue to go on this road, we will not be able to hear him when he speaks.

  Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it

  It’s hard to keep the word of God because we want to do it our own thing. Many of us find it hard to keep it because we have already made up our minds about what we want to do, but this mindset is leading us to the road of destruction. This kind of mindset has ruined tons of people's lives, but we want to follow God and be obedient children; a lot of people look at obedience as a sign of weakness, and it isn’t obedience is submitting to God and allowing him to guide us, because he’s our shepherd if you say he’s your shepherd allow him to lead you today. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything; help us to hear your voice and to follow you, lord; we need you to guide us; lord, continue to help us to hear your voice and to hear you when you speak. Lord, if we are stubborn or disobedient, please help us to turn around and submit to you. Lord, we are so gratified for everything, and we praise you in Jesus' Name Amen

======================

REFERENCES

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+Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart

 

+ John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

 

+ Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

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FURTHER READINGS

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Proverbs 27

Exodus 26

Numbers 35

2 Samuel 22

1 Kings 5

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[generative-sorcery]

God, i'd do so well as the protagonist of the inn sanity game.

"Robin, I know we aren't supposed to be trusting anyone, but, you know, the old man nextdoor is completely chill, how about we invite him over? I know, food supply is already low, but you know just as well as me that we can survive without even for a week! And it's not like we won't have any food at all, have you seen how many supplies i found? We can't just let him rot in there i'm certain he'll start getting famished if we don't share, c'mon let's go"

"Hey, ghost lovely white lady my wife? I know we're in a rough position right now, me not remembering anything about you, but... can you maybe, please, tone down on the killing aspect? Don't you remember how much time we spent together on couple counseling trying to get you over murdering and me over my disgust for human corpses? we were both doing astonishingly good, that's what the therapist said! What do you mean you don't remember? What about the priest? Don't you remember that one evening after the sermon where... we... invited him for dinner, and he told the joke about... how jesus couldn't heal lazarus and had to resurrect him once he died because jesus was God born as man, and not a doctor? Wait... doesn't it mean that both of us have amneisia about ourselves? Oh, how wonderful it is that our love for one another has stayed! But please, can you not kill that priest guy, or can you maybe even help him with survival? He was always such a great friend to both of us, we can't just let him die!"

"My lovely ghost wife, i have wonderful news! I've just found out that our long-lost daughter, she... she's alive! Yes, i also didn't remember i had a daughter at first, but... just... just look at her! She has your... body curvature, yes! She said that i look just like her father, who she doesn't remember very well, since i left you... i'll tell you both about why i've done this, just... not yet, okay? I'm... i'm just so happy that you both are here, this is the greatest day of my life! All that trouble which caused me to leave, it's all over now, we can finally live like a normal family again! You, my amnesiac ghost wife, our astranged daugher, and me!"

(In case you think the protag couldn't bullshit to this degree, trust me, i fooled actual people who are not demented and stupid ghosts into thinking that i remember them and that i'm super glad to see them)

(As for the pale beast- well, the priest has a gun, right? If we gather our forces, there's four living people and a ghost who is at least not a hallucination that only a single person has, at least one spear can be fashioned out of chair legs, the razor and the duct tape found in the hikers' room, it might have supernatural strength and intense bloodlust but c'mon we used to be able to fell fucking mammoths wirh nothing but pointy rocks on long sticks don't you remember?)

[froizetta]

Chapter 5 is here! In which superbat get fucking Counselled.

Rating: Explicit Fandom: DCU Pairing(s): Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne, Hal Jordan/Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne Length: 20.5k Chapters: 5/8

“Be honest with me. All those times I told you guys to go talk to each other about it, did you just…not?” There was a guilty silence from both men on the couch. “Right,” said Hal tiredly. “I figured. Jesus fucking Christ. What did you two even do for the two plus years before I came along? Just stew and not talk about shit?” “We talk,” said Clark, with an undeniable edge of defensiveness. Oh boy. Hal was getting déjà vu. “Yeah, you fucking don't. But look, I'm not trying to like, shame you about it or whatever. I want to help you fix it. Because as your friend, I genuinely want the best for you guys; but also because it’s annoying as hell watching you continuously fuck this up, especially when you’re coming to me to bitch about it. And to be clear!” Hal said quickly when Clark opened his mouth to, presumably, apologize for expressing a goddamn emotion once in a while. “I’m still happy to lend an ear, because that’s what pals are for, yadda yadda et cetera and all that jazz. But I feel like it would really streamline this whole process if you guys cleared some things up first. “So here’s how this is gonna work. You’re both gonna say one true thing to each other that you’ve been holding back, and I’m gonna sit right here and make sure that actually happens, because apparently neither of you can be trusted to do it without a babysitter. And once I’ve metaphorically held your hands through that first step, I’m gonna leave for at least half an hour, and you guys are gonna fucking talk about it. Got it?”

[traumacatholic]

First off, thank you for this blog and all that you post! I was curious if you were aware of any Catholic resources for dealing with anxiety. I’ve struggled in the past few months after having a major nervous breakdown and started going to counseling. It’s been difficult waiting between sessions and at times I feel very distant from God.

Please pray for me as I will pray for you. God bless you 🕊️

Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it!

Some resources that may be helpful:

The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments, and Psychiatry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again - Granted, the title mentions Depression but I think this is a very good book for bringing mental health discussions and discussions of faith together.

This post contains a lot of faith based books that cover various things such as anxiety, scrupulosity, depression etc. While I have not read all (or even most) of the books on this list, you may find some that benefit you.

Hallow has a webpage of a collection of prayers and scripture readings etc for those struggling with anxiety

The Catholic Guide Through Anxiety: Sacred Heart Mental Wellness, with Foreword by Fr. John Paul - This isn't a book that I have read, but it may be worth checking out and seeing if this is something that might benefit you.

Aleteia has some prayers for anxiety that you may find beneficial (if you have a search of their prayers, you can find other prayers dealing with anxiety)

As a personal suggestion, anxious thoughts are almost like habits that we have. And the good thing about habits, is that we can look at the negative habits we have, and work on replacing them with more positive ones. In this case, whenever you feel an anxious thought coming up in your head instead say (or silently pray) "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner". This will disrupt the thought hopefully preventing it from spiralling. Continue this prayer until the anxiety within you settles. Do some slight stretching while you're at it. Roll your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Shake out your arms. It may feel silly at first, but it really does help!

Speak also to God. Vent about things to Him like you would to a therapist. Place your worries and troubles in front of Him. Often times anxieties are there because we do not verbalise them to people and so they are like a tangled mess in our heads. By verbalising them, such as in prayer to God, we can untangle them a little and make things feel more manageable.

And of course, I will keep you in my prayers. Thank you so much for keeping me in yours. May God bless you and comfort you!

[livinglifeagainblog]

Daily Devotional

In Mark 11:22, Jesus emphasizes the power of faith in God. This verse serves as a cornerstone for understanding how trust in the divine can fundamentally alter our perspectives and actions. Faith, as described here, isn't just a passive belief but an active, dynamic force that can move mountains in our lives. It encourages us to lean not on our own understanding but to fully surrender and depend on God's wisdom and timing.

Reflecting on this, we see that faith shapes how we approach challenges and uncertainties. It teaches us that with God, what seems impossible becomes possible. This kind of faith nurtures our spiritual growth and guides us daily, reminding us that our strength lies not within ourselves but through our connection with God.

Concluding Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of faith. Help me to always remember that through faith in You, I can overcome obstacles and face my days with courage. Strengthen my trust in You, so that I may rely not on my own understanding but on Your divine guidance. May my heart always be open to the lessons You teach me through faith. AMEN.

Follow-up Questions:

What is one are of your life where you need to exercise more faith?

How can you actively trust God in that situation starting today?

While these devotionals serve as spiritual guidance and inspiration, they are not a substitute for professional advice or personalized spiritual counsel from qualified individuals. For issues deeply affecting your life, seeking out such counsel might be beneficial.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

God’s Design: From Creation to Salvation

Have you ever thought about the purposeful design in the world around you? Have you ever wondered about the meticulous orchestration behind the workings of the universe? Do you trust in the wisdom of God and His perfect plan?

In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, — Ephesians 1:11

God's wisdom suggests a well-defined plan for the salvation of humanity. Think about it: Would creation be as wonderful without His design? Is there any creature on earth that came into existence merely by chance? Each intricate detail of every living thing--each bone, joint, muscle, gland, and blood vessel--manifests the presence of God. His design pervades every aspect of creation. Should not this design extend to grace as well?

Take a look at Providence, the divine governance of the universe. Do you not see that even a sparrow does not fall without the Father's knowledge? Even the number of hairs on your head is known to Him. God measures our grief and trials with utmost precision. Can there be a God in providence and not in grace?

He who orchestrates the vast cosmos also has a clear vision of the spiritual edifice He is building. He is aware of every 'stone' that He takes from the quarry of nature and polishes with His grace. He knows the exact placement of every single piece in this grand structure, from the foundation to the pinnacle. In the end, it will be evident that He did as He willed with His own. Every part of the work of grace will reflect His purpose, glorifying His name.

Father, may we find comfort in Your divine plan, May we embrace Your wisdom and trust Your design. May our hearts be receptive to Your grace Guiding us closer to Your divine love and light.

Questions for Reflection

How does the concept of God’s design in creation influence your understanding of your own life?

In what ways can you see God's wisdom reflected in your day-to-day life?

How does acknowledging God's omnipresence help you handle current challenges?

How can the idea of being 'chosen and polished by God's grace' change the way you see your life and struggles?

What does 'God's work of grace' mean to you personally?

How can you apply the understanding of 'God's design' to your relationships, career, and personal growth?

How does the imagery of a spiritual edifice inspire your faith and commitment to God's plan?

What practical steps can you take to acknowledge and incorporate 'God's counsel' in your life decisions?

How does the concept of being 'chosen as God's own' influence your sense of identity and purpose?

How can God's precision in managing the universe affect your trust in Him handling your life situations?

In what ways does God's role in the natural world connect with His role in the spiritual world?

Supporting Scriptures

Romans 8:28: And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:29-30: For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

1 Corinthians 2:7: No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

2 Timothy 1:9: He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Romans 9:23: What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—

Ephesians 3:11: according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

[walkswithmyfather]

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20

“What Is the Meaning of 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' in Revelation 3?” By Clarence L. Haynes Jr.:

“In the book of Revelation Jesus gives messages to seven different churches. Some scholars would say these churches represent seven types of churches you may find or seven types of people you may find in the church today. One of the churches that received one of his strongest messages was the church of Laodicea. In light of this church and the challenges this church had, what is the meaning of 'behold I stand at the door and knock'?

What Does 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' Mean? Are there any Laodicean spaces in your heart where you think you are doing fine, but you have shut Jesus out? Where you are neither hot nor cold so you are not good for anything. If there are then the same invitation extends to you as it did to this church. Behold he stands at the door and knocks. Will you let him in? The difference between experiencing all God’s best and settling for much less and much worse hinges on whether you decide to open the door. We often use this verse to talk to unbelievers but remember he was talking to the church. Let’s make sure we always have the door of our heart open to Jesus so that he is able to do everything he wants to do in our lives.

Why Did Jesus Say 'Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock' to the Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3? Jesus didn’t have anything positive to say about this church. Here are the strong words Jesus used to described the church in Laodicea.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” – Rev. 3:15-18

Here are three characteristics of the church at Laodicea:

They were lukewarm. This was a church that was neither hot nor cold. Many people believe this lukewarm only means they were straddling the fence between the world and the church. What it really means is that they were good for nothing. They had no value they could offer. Laodicea was situated near two other cities, Hieropolis which was known for its hot springs that were good for healing and Colossae which was known for cold waters which provided refreshment. Because Laodicea was lukewarm the water they produced was not good for healing or refreshment and thus was not good for anything. As one scholar put it, you can drink hot tea or cold tea but warm tea is pretty much useless.

They were materialistic. This church was rich in material possessions which created a false sense of God’s blessing. This church is a reminder that you cannot equate the blessing of God to anything material, that is not a representation of spiritual maturity, or an indication God is pleased with your life.

They were spiritually poor. The worse part of this church is that they were spiritually bankrupt and they didn’t even realize it. If you would have asked them, they would tell you everything is alright, we are experiencing the blessing of God because look at all we have. Yet amid physical riches, they were lacking in any real spiritual blessings. Sad to say, many in churches today are unaware of their own spiritual lack.

How Does This Tie into Verse 20 ‘Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock’? Knowing what was happening in Laodicea helps you know the meaning of behold I stand at the door and knock. Let me point your attention to a few thoughts.”

[Read more here.]

[unkn2theknwn]

Weight that i cannot bear..

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your new mercies every morning, for still giving me a chance to build a deeper communion with You. Even though I have sinned or said things I regret, You have given me the greatest gift of all—waking up and being alive. You have granted me another opportunity to bring Your Kingdom to earth, which You created.

Father, I pray that You will teach and counsel me as You have called me to be Your vessel. May Your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding seep into my soul so that I may help Your broken people.

God, I need to express what is deep in my heart, and I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me. I know You have given me the gift of mercy and empathy toward others. Yet, sometimes, feeling other people’s pain weighs so heavily on me. It pierces my heart like a sharp knife because I carry the burden of their traumas. It weakens me, and I wonder how Your Son, Jesus, bore it all.

Holy Spirit, every day, I pray that You guide me to be like Jesus so that I may be a walking reflection of You. But sometimes, it is so hard. I understand that I will never be perfect, and I have accepted that. Yet, when people open up to me, I feel my desire to help them growing weaker.

Abba, I believe this started with one of my family members. Every day, I would listen to her insecurities and offer advice, yet she never acted on it. Over time, I naturally gave up. I used to help her with schoolwork, but her reliance on me became a heavy weight on my shoulders. Again, I naturally gave up. At the same time, my coworker, whom I see Monday through Friday, constantly shares her personal struggles. And once more, I find myself withdrawing, no longer eager to listen or be concerned.

Yet, despite these feelings, I still pray for them. I don’t like feeling this way, Lord. In this picture I found online, the weight of it all reminds me—while holding on to others rather than myself—that I have placed so much trust in You to heal my past traumas, yet I haven’t truly given You the room to do so. I am trying to be a faithful daughter of Christ, but I need Your help. When is too much, too much?

I remember years ago, after high school, I wanted to be a social worker (which I am happy I did not pursue). The human mind fascinated me. But that was before I had a relationship with You, Jesus. Now, as I realize that no one will ever understand the human heart and mind better than You, for You experienced being one of us through the Father.

Lord, I ask for Your forgiveness for any sins, known or unknown. When others open their hearts, I want to listen and help as best as I can. Even when it feels like too much to bear, I know I must put myself aside and be selfless. But I also pray for discernment—to know when to say no and leave it in Your hands.

Jesus, I love You so much, and You have never failed me. I know, deep in my soul, that this is the year of deliverance in our walk together. I trust that You will help me through this. You said, "Come to Me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest," and that Your burden is light. So, I lay this at the foot of the cross and surrender it to You.

In Your beautiful, matchless name, I pray. Amen

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for Thursday, February 13, 2025

  Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 7:4-27(KJV): 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with love. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone on a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him and will come home on the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips, she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now, therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Thought for the Day

Verses 4-27 - Proverbs records a detailed description of how a young man is seduced by a prostitute. Verse 4 begins by telling him to get wisdom and an understanding of the "women" that he should pursue. Wisdom will make a wonderful "sister" and understanding a great "aunt" who will give the good advice that he needs. Their counsel will keep him from sin because they have true love and concern for him.

The ways of the seductress present an analogy of Satan's attempts to lure the believer into his clutches. The devil has an arsenal of temptations and exploits our weaknesses. Just as the adulteress used what smelled, looked, tasted, and felt good to lure the young man, the devil uses these same means to tempt us. While dangling his bait, he may often say something like the adulteress' words in verses 19 and 20: "Jesus will not return for a while. You have plenty of time to indulge in sin before He comes back!" Beware of the enemy's flattering words.

This portion of Scripture reminds us that "...many strong men have been slain by her." In other words, we cannot count on our strength to resist temptation. At some point we will fall, unless we humbly call out to God for the grace to overcome our struggles.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for giving me the power to overcome the tricks of the devil so that I will not fall into his traps. Lord, I pray for all the young men that I know, that they might be kept from the ways of harlots. Lord, I also pray for those who are trapped in the bondage of prostitution. Lord, l know that You love them and want to free them from their life of sin. Help these women today, to cry unto You for deliverance. They can be made clean by Your blood. Keep us all in Your hands and protect our children and grandchildren from the ways of the enemy. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.