I was first introduced to the Serenity Prayer standing in a gift shop as a young girl and I remember first thinking it must be a quote taken directly from the Bible, for its truth was so impactful, and simply reading the verses made me feel a sense of calm and peace. It was only years later that I discovered that it was in fact attributed to an American theologian by the name of Reinhold Niebuhr. While it was not taken from the Bible as I had thought, the Serenity Prayer has ever since been a prayer that I return to when I am needing comfort. My excitement at discovering that there is an entire devotional dedicated to it was therefore not surprising.

Called “Seeking Serenity”, by Trevor Hudson, I cannot lie: at first I couldn’t help but question how an entire 365-page devotional could be made out of one single prayer without there being extreme repetition in it. Yet this is not the case at all! The author has not only managed to write 365 individual, daily devotions but, by exploring unique challenges and themes that, on the surface, one doesn’t immediately recognise, he has done it masterfully.

Before we unpack how he has accomplished this, let’s have a read to remind ourselves of the calming truth found in the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace:
taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it:
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will –
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

As Trevor Hudson himself describes in his foreword, the relevance of the Serenity Prayer is amplified by our current cultural context, where political and economic instability is being experienced the world over. Therefore, the need for incorporating serenity into our daily perspective and experience is even more paramount.

Hudson has taken the riches found in those 12 lines and expanded them into an in-depth journey that touches on all spheres of our daily spiritual walk, where each month of the year is dedicated to one line from the Serenity Prayer and guides the daily reflections. The structure is genius in that while each line may appear to be a standalone nugget of wisdom, it is in fact a ribbon tying together a gift of many treasures found in scripture and through reflection. The author unpacks this one by one through each day of the month, and each month of the year.

Weaving in his personal experiences and how he has discovered serenity in his own life’s struggles, we have a practical guideline with personal depth and heart, offering daily advice for life’s challenges using scripture as the unwavering compass. Each chapter ends with a ‘seeking serenity’ suggestion alongside the prayer, which helps the reader to apply the principles.

January kicks off the serenity journey with the opening line, “God grant me the serenity”, in which the author describes on a daily basis the different aspects of serenity and how we build this into our lives. As stated, he does this by giving relevant personal accounts and emphasises how we anchor ourselves in serenity through relationship with God.

We then move into February, March and April, specifically discussing through modern examples we encounter every day, the things that are not within our control, the things we can change, and all the aspects of change, which can take various forms. Firstly, in our own personal transformation, and secondly, in our being change-makers in the world. The most important aspect is knowing the difference, and here he explores wisdom and how we seek this through His word.

In May and June, he takes us on a journey of mindfulness, how to be truly present, and living in an attitude of gratitude, so that we can experience the true nature of God, and bringing us into deeper, loving relationship with him.

Between July and October, amongst other invaluable things, we step onto a path on which we reflect on the hardships of life, and on accepting the world as it is. These months take us into yet deeper layers of our spiritual journey, learning what it means to be truly surrendered to God’s will and not our own, in order to foster joy in knowing that God is fully in control, and that all things will be redeemed.

In November and December, we complete the circle of our 365-day journey, reflecting on the balance between earthly contentment and eternal joy, and offering a lens for each month that ultimately points to God’s ultimate promises that truly do help us to live with serenity.

One of the most beneficial traits of the devotional is that it is undated, and therefore may be used throughout your life, depending on seasons when serenity is most needed. If you love the Serentiy Prayer as much as I do, this book is for you, and I invite you to experience this special and unique devotion which will lead you on an enriching personal journey, saturated in serenity.

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post Seeking Serenity by Trevor Hudson: Book Review appeared first on Cup of Faith.

We all pray. Talking to God seems to be a part of our DNA, from the ‘God, if you’re listening’ cries of desperation to the well-thumbed hymnal of a devout 80 year old. Prayer can be freestyle or written as a poem, wordless or wordy, quick-fire or facedown petitioning sessions, popcorn group prayers or individual meditative heart-prayers.

One fascinating reflection on prayer is Charles Spurgeon’s chapter ‘Order and Argument in Prayer’ in his book ‘The Power in Prayer’. What were some of the formulas of the prophets’ effective petitions? What examples can we use to fuel our personal faith in prayer and stoke passion into our cries?

First, we must acknowledge that all prayer reaches God’s ears. The enemy can often taunt us with the lie that God can’t or won’t listen to His children. We can counter this easily with various scriptures, for example:

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)

Just like any good father is attentive to his child’s voice, God listens to all our prayers no matter the size or shape.

Arguing your case in prayer

As we discussed this topic as a bible study group, I realised that many of us in the room felt that to ‘beef up’ our prayers with reasons God should answer us felt almost… demanding. It felt like we were actually discussing ‘seven steps to manipulating God into giving you what you want’. This demure attitude may be a whiplash effect in our church culture following the anti-prosperity-gospel sentiments of Reformers and Friends. But what does the Bible say? Moses padded his prayers with arguments. Elijah (a man like us!) knew what to say to see results. Jeremiah, too, was pretty wordy. Can all of these men of God be wrong and manipulative? Maybe, just maybe, when we speak to God from a place of relationship, persuasive methods are not so much about getting what we want but aligning our faith, our belief system, with what we know to be true about Him.

The following list can be found in ‘The Power in Prayer’ by Charles Spurgeon:

1. God’s Attributes

Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?

Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:24-25)

Abraham pleads with God not to destroy the city on the basis of God’s righteous justice.

To base your prayer requests on God’s attributes means to appeal to what you know about God: His love, His kindness, His justice, his mercy. God’s nature will never change and our prayers are powerful when based on His unchanging characteristics.

2. God’s Promises

“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.” (2 Samuel 7:25)

This is a piece of David’s prayer in response to a prophecy from the prophet Nathan.

Here we see David aligning his prayers to God’s promises to him rather than his personal desires. He had initially planned to build the temple himself but had to back-pedal following Nathan’s words. 

This is perhaps one of the better known prayer strategies: Basing prayers on scriptures (God’s word) and to use scripture in prayer. For example, when praying for someone’s future you might quote Jeremiah 29:11. ‘God’s Promises’ could also include personal, tested prophetic words that have been given to you through the Holy Spirit.

3. The Name of God

Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. (Exodus 32:12)

Reverence for God’s great glory (or ‘fear of God’) is a heart posture that is cultivated over time. God Himself is deeply committed to His own glory and He will defend it. This is a common prayer argument used by Moses in Exodus and Numbers.

4. The Sorrow of His People

Her Nazirites were brighter than snow

And whiter than milk;

They were more ruddy in body than rubies,

Like sapphire in their appearance.

Now their appearance is blacker than soot;

They go unrecognized in the streets;

Their skin clings to their bones,

It has become as dry as wood.

(Lamentations 4:7-8)

In this poetic lamentation, Jeremiah reminds God of the depth of the people’s suffering. God’s compassion for His people knows no bounds. In fact, our deep longing to see suffering resolved in specific spheres are most likely initiated by His Spirit. When deep cries out to deep, He will no doubt respond!

5. The Past

And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them…” (Numbers 14:13)

The word testimony in Hebrew is ‘Aydooth’ which means ‘do it again with the same power and authority’. When we read the Bible our faith is kindled by the many miracles and answered prayers. We can use biblical examples of God’s movements to strengthen our prayers. If He’s done it before, He can do it again!

6. The Only True God

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. (1 Kings 18:36)

Spurgeon quotes this famous passage in which fire rages down from heaven to consume a hosed-down sacrifice, moat of water and pagan blasphemers. Elijah prayed that all would know Him as the only true God and God revealed Himself in an extravagant showdown.

7. The Sufferings of Jesus

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:14)

Praying based on the sufferings of Jesus means to pray in His name. This is the most common ‘argument’ that Christians use in their prayers and for good reason. God will always remain faithful to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is our great intercessor and mediator and when we pray in His Name, we are saying that we are praying so that His work, kingdom and glory will be magnified in the answers to our prayers.

Try it out

It’s helpful to think of this process as a conversation. For example, when I tried out argument one, ‘The Attributes of God’ in my prayer this morning, I wasn’t sure which of His characteristics related most with my request. I was praying over the book I am currently writing and I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of the ‘Spirit of Knowledge’. God is a God of knowledge and books fall well under that category! 

Why try to use one or two of these seven arguments that you haven’t used before? 

Let us know how it goes in the comments below!

Ref: Spurgeon, C. (1996) The Power in Prayer. Whitaker House.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

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“I am prayerful and I am joyful!”

What a wonderful statement to make and ponder but in reality, some of us may be struggling to pray or perhaps you have questions: 

• To whom do I pray to? 
• How do I pray? 
• Why should I pray? 
• Do prayers even work?

One evening during Bible study a fellow believer asked a very simple yet intriguing question, it might sound trivial to some but to others, it’s an important question that they may have in their walk with Christ. When I pray, who is it that I am addressing? I tell you this got me thinking long and hard  –I know the answer, do you?

According to the Scriptures, the disciples directly addressed Christ in their prayers and today we do too but always remember it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to pray and draw us closer to God. 

Let us read the following scriptures together about how the Holy Spirit aids us: 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” John 14:26 (ESV)  and

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)

Simply put there is no right or wrong way to pray but Jesus does give us a guideline on how to, let us reflect on Matthew 6:7-15 where Jesus said “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Our prayers not only acknowledge Him as our Lord and how sovereign He is but that we also wish to follow His statutes in everything we do daily. Prayer is essentially first to honor God and to give Him glory, He comes first and we come second.

How you conduct your prayer life is entirely up to you but it should always remain not only biblical but also respectful. I know some people who talk to God out loud as they go about their day or people like myself who have an internal dialog with the Lord in addition to  our quiet time during devotions. It does not matter how you do it as long as you are doing it respectfully. We should be constantly praying and rejoicing in the Lord (See Romans 12:12).

Pray and pray some more

Prayer is of such great importance in our lives as it forms a deeper more personal relationship with God and perpetual prayer emphasizes our true faith. (See Luke 18:1-8.) He should be the first person you seek counsel from. Remember “the war room” or a prayer strategy I spoke about in my previous blog post? That’s exactly what I mean when I say pray and pray some more! The reason behind prayer immediately takes me to Jeremiah 29:12 where God tells us that if we genuinely call out to Him, He will always listen and help us through the troubles and calamities we face and prayer ultimately gives us peace (see Philippians 4:6-7). 

This does not mean “lip service” for the sake of keeping appearances and relying on your own understanding and others to make or see a difference- this is superficial prayer; God wants genuineness and He wants the raw naked you with full dependence upon Him.

By genuinely praying (see James 4:3), calling out to God and seeking His will through His word you begin to grasp that everything lies in His powerful hands and everything in His time will be rectified. Leave it to Him and obey His commands and you will surely see Him working in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine!

Prayers do work

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve encountered God answering my prayers, not in ways I thought foolishly but I realized it was in His time once again. I will give you an example: when I became saved, the biggest battle I faced was my patience– or rather lack thereof! I had a very short temper and one of many prayers I prayed was that the Lord grant me patience…

It’s funny when I think back because it wasn’t something that happened by the snap of a finger – trust me it would have been very convenient if it did, but then there would be no lesson learned and zero accountability. I would have simply moved on without a second thought. Fostering patience was continuous – it is spiritual growth that leads to wisdom. God presented me with opportunities to become patient: from getting my sleeve caught on a doorknob to more complex situations where losing my temper would have created devastation. So I’ll pose you with another reflective question that applies to many if not all aspects of our lives: How can we say we reflect or are ambassadors for Christ when we act contrary to His commands? 

I urge you to think about all the prayers you prayed for, have they been answered or not? If your answer is yes, then did you remember to take the time in your devotion to write them down and thank the Lord for answering them – and with the same breath, thanking Him for never forsaking you? If your answer is no, not yet I’m still waiting: please do not lose hope or faith but trust in God and He will make straight your paths (see Proverbs 3:5-6). Be reminded that He knows what we need, when we need it and how much of it is needed in our lives. He knows what is good for us and what will bring Him glory. Our Divine Shepherd will provide and protect us in all situations. God is lavish in His love for His sheep! (see Psalm 23)

Prayer

My prayer for you, my wonderfully and fearfully made sister, is the following:

Dear Lord, today I surrender myself wholeheartedly to your hands. I’ve spent too much time in my own understanding. I’ve been leaning on others where I should have come to you first, I should have sought your counsel first rather than following the counsel of the world. 

Lord, may my plans always be in line with yours and if they are not please help guide me with wisdom, steadfastness, and endurance as I navigate how to follow your commands to become more Christ-like and that I never forget to be prayerful and joyful in you!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sylvia van Jaarsveld

I’m a volunteer blogger. Welcome to my blog posts! May my writings be an inspiration to you and an aid to get you into a biblical mindset: “It’s never me but God!”
Let us grow together!
~Col 2:6-8

The post I am prayerful and I am joyful! appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Darkness had come again. And with it the cold knot of fear and anxiety that was fast becoming my constant companion. Each night, as the sun went down, I was compelled to keep vigil outside of my two and three-year-olds’ bedroom. Convinced that if I let my guard down for even a moment, disaster would strike.

We had moved halfway across the world to India to follow a call into missions. Trusting God with our finances and the people we left behind had been fairly easy, but as we settled into a small Himalayan village I wondered why I struggled to trust him with my children. Were the rats that lurked in hidden corners of our house, which I imagined attacking my kids and infecting them with rabies while they slept, more powerful than the God I serve? Certainly not.

I knew the Bible was bursting with verses telling me to choose prayer over worry, but my nightly vigils felt imperative to my children’s safety, and I wouldn’t be caught off guard. Never mind that it was wearing me down, bit by bit, turning me into a hollow insomniac. My heart longed to obey the Bible’s wise instruction, but my mind was locked in a pattern of self-reliant fear.

I just couldn’t seem to get my mind in line with what I knew the word of God said.

Does this sound vaguely familiar? Maybe it’s not your children. Maybe, for you, it’s another aspect of your life that has you biting back fear and rehearsing knee-buckling what-ifs.

How can we get to the place where our stress-addled hearts and panic-stricken lives come into alignment with the word of God? Where we swap our worries for bone-deep assurance in our Savior. In our heads we know his way is best, but how do we get our hearts and minds to not only agree, but obey?

Isaiah 26:3-4 holds the answer: You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Did you catch that? Perfect peace is available for those who keep their thoughts on Jesus! Those who trust him with whatever they’re facing.

Who doesn’t desire a deeply rooted sense of peace? A peace that isn’t dependent upon how much money is in your bank account or how many people liked your latest Instagram post. As this verse points out, our only source for perfect peace is Jesus.

We need to train our minds, when they’re overtaken by worry and anxiety, to rehearse the word of God. If you’re struggling with anxiety today, try replacing your worries with the truth of Isaiah 26, and allow the unexplainable perfect peace of God to overwhelm your thought life today.

Erica Barthalow

A pastor’s wife and former missionary to India, Erica Barthalow is most at home among those with honest questions and wondering hearts. She’s the author of “Holy Doubt.” You can catch up with her at www.ericabarthalow.com.

www.ericabarthalow.com/

The post Searching for Peace? appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Father, I give you my all. I surrender everything I own to your will. I’m willing to obey your instructions. Take the wheel of my life, for my strength, has failed me. I trust you Lord to come to my rescue. Thanks for the prayers answered.

Those above lines became my daily heart cry to God. I struggled to keep my side of the bargain. Having confessed those words sincerely, a few hours later I was back to the regular me of worrying if God truly could handle my life.

This inconstancy in trusting God has become a battle for a lot of us. This minute we trust God for help and the next minute we are engrossed with worries and fears. We ask God to perfect His plans for our life—but along the way, we begin to interfere in His way.

We’re truly looking up to Jesus and trusting in Him. However, a slight glimpse of our problems distracts our focus, and gradually we begin to sink into those challenges.

What are your reactions when your gaze on Jesus is diverted? Will you rather sink or cry out?

However, we aren’t left in the dark to guess our way through. This same attitude of inconsistency in trusting God was evident in Peter’s life. – Matthew 14: 25 – 33

Peter’s story about how he walked on water was epic and daring. He was one of Jesus courageous disciples who wouldn’t hesitate to follow in his master’s footsteps.

He wasn’t afraid to try something new. Hence, when he saw his master walking on water he immediately left the boat and stood on the water.

At that stage, we could believe that he became unconscious of the vast waters around him and the waves. All his attention was focused on getting to Jesus. He was certainly looking unto Jesus.

But then something happened—he lost his focus. Doubt began to creep into his heart because he became conscious of sinking. Suddenly, he started sinking.

My spirit got open to see the way out of my struggle through Peter’s story.

Peter would have sunk if he hadn’t cried out to Jesus. But thank goodness he did and instantly Jesus took hold of his hand and pulled him back on course.

That’s exactly what God expects from me and you. He knows how we battle to keep our gaze on Him. He isn’t compelling us to do it at all cost. Neither is He offended we get to doubt His abilities and power.

All He desires is that we cry out to Him to help us from sinking into our worries. He is waiting to hear our cry—He wouldn’t hesitate to come to our rescue.

We shouldn’t feel discouraged, whenever we doubt God’s help. Instead, we should be quick to cry for His help. We may be shaken by the storm of life, but God isn’t.

By looking unto Jesus, we’re empowered to do the impossible, just the way Peter walked on the water. Perhaps we begin to sink on that path—Cry out! He is listening.

Happiness Hassan

I’m Happiness Hassan, the founder of Inspiring Guide—A personal development blog that empowers you to become the best version of yourself!

Also, I’m an SEO content writer and strategist with over 7 years of experience helping brands boost visibility, engagement, and sales.

On the coaching side, I’ve trained countless writers to turn their passion into profitable SEO careers.

When I’m not geeking out over SEO, you’ll find me deep in the world of self-development. As a dedicated student of continuous growth, I write about my growth journey, sharing insights to help others unlock their potential. So, if you’re looking for a little push to become your best self, stick around—I’ve got you covered!

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If we really have to be honest with ourselves, I believe there is not one person that has not had a bad experience in life, from childhood memories to trauma experienced from unexpected events. It is important to understand that not everyone has the same ability when it comes to working through these experiences. People are often ashamed to go and ask for help from a registered counsellor or a therapist. Some people choose to live in denial which puts a huge burden on the mental capacity to try and cope with these emotions, thoughts and memories.

This oftentimes leads to people turning to all forms of coping mechanisms, to try and escape the hurt, shame and total disillusionment. The occurrence of mental health-related conditions in society has seen a rapid increase in the last couple of decades. The impact of the worldwide pandemic that is currently still part of our everyday lives has also had a major impact on people’s lives. Seen that May is a time to raise awareness for those living with mental or behavioural health challenges and to assist in reducing the stigma that so many people experience. To help those people find resources and practical tools that can be used to improve their mental health and increase their resilience.

One of the many coping mechanisms people turn to, to try and cope with anxiety, depression or any other related mental behavioural challenges is self-mutilation. The specific focus of my post is therefore to create awareness and offer some guidance on what self-mutilation is and how to approach this harmful behavioural pattern.

What is self-mutilation? The most common form of self-mutilation is cutting and or burning (but some people cut on less noticeable areas of the body), pulling out hair, hitting yourself, scratching yourself, breaking your bones intentionally or ingestion of anything that could be harmful to the body. People who struggle with self-mutilation do this in a response to deep inner pain, brokenness, loneliness, despair and underlying depression.

Cutting is a destructive unhealthy coping mechanism. If no solution is found to these feelings of hopelessness and fear, then it can only escalate into desperation that can manifest into an attempted suicide. It must be understood that the motive for these actions of self-mutilation is not self-destructive in nature — on the contrary, it is an attempt for the person to feel better (because the emotions are greater than themselves).

Self-mutilation is an unhealthy way or attempts to try and manage your emotions. Cutting releases endorphins in the brain, an action that creates a detachment from reality. The desired emotional relief to the person is the search to an escape from reality or to be caught in a euphoric state. Euphoria is an overwhelming feeling of happiness, joy, and well-being.

People experiencing euphoria may feel carefree, safe, and free of stress. Suicide is seen as a permanent solution, whereas self-mutilation is seen as a temporary solution to a long-term problem.

Critical to a breakthrough from self–mutilation lies in the process of healing of memories (also known as inner healing) followed by a potential need for the prayer of deliverance.

Journal Activity:

Write down any negative statements that you say about yourself on a regular basis. This will include the words “never or always”, such as, “I always do the wrong thing.” —rewrite those statements inflexible terms, in a more positive style such as, “Sometimes I make good decisions.”
The idea is to recognize that we rarely live life in the absolutes of “never” or “always,” and a good outcome is as likely as a bad outcome.

Be reminded that a positive attitude and actions create more positivity.
Saying the positive, flexible statements out loud whenever the negative thoughts try to creep back into your consciousness will also help change this destructive behaviour.

Bible Study

Read Luke 18:1-8 –Why did Jesus feel the need to tell a story? Stories help us remember, the connection to stories happens in a different place in our hearts and in our heads rather than just being a statement in general. Jesus had two points he wanted to imprint onto the hearts of his disciples. Firstly, He wanted them to be dedicated to prayer and make it a consistent part of their lives. Secondly, He wanted them to know that they must never give up, no matter what the circumstances might be.

What seems to make you fall apart can eventually reform you. What if these words are true; the deeper you know your brokenness, the deeper you can experience being loved. “I fall because I am broken but I rise because I am worthy, and I fall again because I am broken but I always rise because Jesus saved me!”

I want to encourage you to trust in Him as well, and wait on Him (Psalm 46:1, Psalm 27:14, Hebrews 12:1-3; Proverbs 23:18).  God promises His children a future filled with hope. He will help you through current circumstances. You may not see it right now and don’t understand how He is working in your life, but He will not abandon you. I want to encourage you that HOPE has a name and His name is Jesus. Mindfulness mantra: A good phrase: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

Prayer

Jesus, I know there are things I need to do to feel better, but just thinking about them seems exhausting. Jesus, help me take the first step. And when that first step is taken, help me take the next and then next step that I may walk in victory with You. Lead me to a place of serenity where this fog of fear and doubt will lift, that I will feel lighter, happier, healthier, and in control of my emotions. Grant me the patience to accept Your plan for my life, and to live in faith in the expectation of a blessed life in Your Grace. Jesus, help me to never give up as I seek Your will, Your presence, and Your help through prayer. Amen.

Helpful Resources

If you battle with a form of self-mutilation or you know someone who does, we want you to understand this article will only point you in the right direction.

Find help from a professional, licensed counsellor, or therapist — for you or someone else. (These contact numbers are for assistance in South Africa. Please consult an online directory for help in the region where you reside).

SADAG Mental Health Line
011 234 4837

Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit 24 Hour
0861 435 787

Leni Snyman

Pastoral Counsellor (special interest in trauma).

The post Open Wounds appeared first on Cup of Faith.

We are in Christ and we can never be disadvantaged because the Father has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We are people of influence and we must impact lives with the Gospel of Jesus.

Whatever the situation you might be going through. The Bible urges us to pray without ceasing. We ought to be feeding our minds with the word of God and by so doing our doubts and fears will be starved, then we can come out as victors.

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 NIV

Taking our cares, fears, hopes, dreams, careers, work and anything in our sphere to God and not to worry about it, praying and thanking God that He has granted us victory. He is able and l have never seen the righteous forsaken. With Jesus everything is possible. He cares, cast your burdens and worries unto Jesus. My sister, look to Jesus when the going gets tough, take it to Him in prayer and trust Him to lead the way.

Jesus knows best, He didn’t bring you this far so that He can leave you. Grace has put us ahead of everything in life and we can not be disadvantaged so fear not. There are people right now reading through this post, God is saying you you mustn’t give in, He knows you all by name, even the very hairs on your head have been numbered. What greater love ! He has engraved you on the palm of His hands. God has not forgotten about each one of you. He has planned and perfected all that concerns you. God is saying fear not, He has not forsaken you at all.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34 NIV

Ellen Manzvanzvike

My name is Ellen, I am married and a mother of 2. I hold diplomas in Marketing and Business and Industrial Administration. I’m a motivational speaker with a passion for empowering, encouraging and inspiring women.All my work is empowered by the holy spirit, who guides me and tells me what to write with the aim of soul winning.

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“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promise to her”
Luke 1:45

Mother’s Day is around the corner and our social media feeds are filled with competitions to win for you and your mom, special discounts and prompts for how you plan on spoiling on them.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom and I plan to change no nappies and clean no dishes on Mother’s Day, but in the commercial aspect of this day we have forgotten two things; the pain and privilege of a day like this.

I understand how privileged I am to call myself a mom and have children. After suffering from infertility for 5 years, being poked and prodded, operations, IVF’s and empty bank accounts – I never forget how very, very privileged I am. I am also privileged to have had an incredible mother for 26 years (whom I lost to cancer nearly 10 years ago), and a mother-in-law whom I love dearly for 11 years.

Now, the hard part is the pain, and I want to write and pray for all those women. The women we forget about while we’re all busy celebrating and not washing dishes.

So this Mother’s Day, let us take a moment and lift in prayer and possibly light a candle for these women:
For you, who have lost your mother and grieve
For you, who struggles with infertility and desperately want to celebrate this day
For you, who has a broken relationship with your mother/your child
For you, who has lost a child – no one should go through your pain
For you, who’s mother suffers from a loss of memory and remembering who you are
For you, who waits to meet your life partner and longs to have a family and a relationship
For you, the single mom who does it all and deserves a superhero cape
For you, who’s mother is unwell and your worry consumes you

Mother’s Day is to be celebrated and to spoil the mother’s and mother figures in our lives. But let us as strong, compassionate, Christian women come together to pray for the hearts of those that sit with pain and struggle on a day that magnifies their pain.

Blessed is she, just keep on believing!

Tamlyn Dennekamp

The last 10 years has had its hardships. Losing my mom (who was my best friend) to cancer, struggling with infertility for five years, and depression the last two. However, our God is one of miracles, healing and grace, and I’d love to share my experiences in a hope to help and or inspire anyone willing to listen.

The post The pain and privilege of Mother’s Day appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Are you desperate to overcome some obstacles in your life? God’s Word is full of LIFE.

YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER

Ephesians 2:6 says; And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Therefore, my beloved child arise today, for to him who overcomes and does my will to the end I will give authority over the nations. –Revelation 2:26.  

Hence, You are above and not beneath. I am your Abba Father.
I am your rock, your anchor;
hold fast to me, for I have hold of you. You are made in my image
and You are an overcomer.

The earth is The Lords and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,–Psalm 24:1.

Therefore, walk as a child of light. Dear one, feel my light as it warms your very heart and soul.  I have given you power and dominion overall thing. Use my words to decree and declare all that you need.

For I am He who leads the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I guide you;
I turn the darkness into light before you and make the rough places smooth.
I will not forsake you.
I have opened your eyes to see and your ears to hear.
Arise and shine forth this day. All is accomplished.
Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says The Lord of Hosts.
You are unstoppable now!
A spirit of excellence is being released.  You are unshakable and courageous because I have overcome by the blood of the lamb. Hallelujah

Jane John

Jane is a mother of 2 beautiful daughters and is from Durban. She is a graphic designer and loves creating Christian artwork that include booklets, bookmarks, stickers, banners, scripture cards, and daily devotion books.

The post I am an overcomer appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I gently fold my praying hands
around my precious beads
As thoughts begin to turn to you
Your suffering, hopes and needs.

Quietly I listen
to the rhythm of my prayer
Beads slipping through my fingers
my rosary resting there.

Each decade tells a story
Of the life of our dear Lord
“Behold His Blessed Mother
pondering God’s Word.”

I place you in His loving care
where Peace and Love abound
May blessings fill your loneliness
where sadness now is found.

I pray God’s Grace will touch your day
and nights bring gentle sleep
As He bestows His healing Love
your soul, in Peace, to keep.

AMEN.

Margaret Kramer

I enjoy writing, quilting, gospel music, and being Oma to 8 precious grandchildren. We were a farming family, retiring to Medicine Hat, Alberta in 2000. My husband Tony, is the love of my life, and my faithfully patient caregiver. We have 3 adult children with families, and they are very supportive and loving. I am truly blessed, despite my health challenges, and I believe my ministry from home is God’s calling for me! I am privileged to share my Faith and bring God’s love whenever possible.

The post My Prayer for You appeared first on Cup of Faith.