A Rising Remnant

Tag: spiritual growth journey

  • I used to say Philippians 4:13 for motivation… until God showed me what it truly means

    I used to say Philippians 4:13 for motivation… until God showed me what it truly means

    Misunderstood and Misused

    From the pulpit to the streets, Philippians 4:13, has been one of the many scriptures that have been  misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused for years.

    “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

    That’s what it says, and most Christians, myself included, have used this scripture at one point or another to help give them motivation…

    “I can get that promotion, buy that house, or reach my goals through Christ who strengthens me.”

    But when Paul wrote it, he was in prison, enduring suffering. He wasn’t talking about doing whatever he wanted. It’s like he was praying:

    “Lord, even though this situation is hard, Your presence strengthens me. Even if I’m going through suffering right now, You have given me the strength to endure, because in my weakness, Your power is made strong.

    It’s a good thing for us to remember with Christ, we have the strength to endure every circumstance, whether abundance or lack, success or hardship.

    My Personal Awakening

    For me, it wasn’t so much a season of hardship that made me dig into this verse. It was when I finally surrendered my life to Christ and prayed, asking Him to give me knowledge of Scripture, understanding of what it truly meant, and the wisdom to apply it. And He did.

    As I began studying, things started to make sense. I started looking over my life and realized how many times I had used Philippians 4:13 for my own personal gain. I said it, or repeated it, because I’d heard people around me say it, out of habit, or as a way to make myself feel better. But nothing actually changed. It was like my eyes were finally open.

    That’s when I realized the verse wasn’t meant to be a motivational slogan, it was meant to remind us that God’s strength equips us to walk faithfully in His will, whether life feels easy or impossible.

    Walking in God’s Strength

    God will give us strength, but only if it aligns with His will for our lives. Anything that requires faith, He gives strength for, whether that’s:

    • Enduring trials and suffering

    • Resisting temptation

    • Obeying His Word

    • Forgiving others

    • Serving and loving others

    • Sharing the Gospel boldly

    • Standing firm in faith

    • Doing good works

    The Danger of Misusing Scripture

    But here’s the thing, misusing scripture is dangerous. It sets up false expectations. If someone, believes this verse means, “God will give me strength to succeed at whatever I want,” they may expect guaranteed wins, wealth, or breakthroughs in life. And When life doesn’t turn out that way, it can lead to disappointment with God and even loss of faith.

    I know because I’ve been there. And it wasn’t just this one scripture… it was a lifetime of misinterpretations of scriptures I’d heard over the years. The danger isn’t just quoting them wrong; it’s developing a view of God that isn’t biblical. That false view can leave people discouraged, disappointed, or even walking away from the faith when life gets hard.

    A Hopeful Perspective

    The good thing is, even when we’ve misunderstood, God doesn’t throw us away. He corrects us gently and opens our eyes to the truth.

    Philippians 4:13 may not promise we’ll get everything we want, but it promises something even better…  It means no matter what I face, whether I’m in a season of plenty or a season of lack… Christ is right there giving me the strength to keep going.

    My Takeaway

    Instead of using this verse like a motivational quote, I can hold onto it as a promise… God’s presence will carry me through whatever comes. And when my faith is built on that, it’s not so easily shaken when life doesn’t go my way.

  • When Scripture Begins to Take Root in Your Heart and No Longer Are Just Words on a Page

    When Scripture Begins to Take Root in Your Heart and No Longer Are Just Words on a Page

    Someone once told me, “It’s impossible to read God’s Word and it not change your heart.” That stuck with me, because it’s so true.

    Curiosity That Led To Change

    When I finally began taking my relationship with the Lord seriously, something inside me shifted. It stirred up a hunger, a curiosity, a deep desire to know Him. I wanted to understand who Jesus really was.

    Why should I listen to what He had to say? What was so important about the words written on these pages? Could they actually help me?

    And what I found… changed everything.

    It changed who I thought I was.

    It changed the way I spoke and responded to people.

    It changed how I handled situations.

    It changed the way I treated others and even the way I treated myself.

    It changed the way I gave and received love.

    It completely changed the way I saw the world.

    Nothing Hidden

    And to be clear, I didn’t stumble on some secret code hidden in Scripture. I was just open. Whatever the Lord wanted me to have, I opened my heart to receive it. And He met me there… giving me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

    For the first time, those words on the page made sense. The more I read, the more I wanted to spend time with Him. It felt like I was reading His personal journal… and he wanted me to find it and read it. One He had written with me in mind. Nothing was new, but it felt brand new to me.

    His Word Changes You

    And as I read, I felt everything: sadness, joy, anger, confusion, gratitude, awe, even speechlessness at times. I began to see the Lord differently, not in a bad way, but in a way that filled me with reverence, love, and honor. It was a feeling that I didn’t know I could experience. A feeling I didn’t know I needed.

    His Word began healing wounds I didn’t even know were still open. It brought clarity to old pain and new struggles. It was like being lifted onto a cloud, and I never wanted to come down.

    That’s what the Word of Jesus Christ does when you let it take root in your heart.

    I never knew how deeply He loved me. I never grasped how sacrificial His love really was. He wants me walking in freedom and healing. He values me. He sees beyond my flaws and brokenness. He doesn’t desire my suffering, but longs for good things for me.

    His Word Builds Us Up

    And when I allowed His Word to speak directly to my heart, it began to take root. My desires changed. Conviction became real. I stopped being selfish, and living only to satisfy my flesh. I started to see my sin for what it was and, for the first time, care about how it made the Lord feel.

    Colossians 2:6–7 says:

    “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

    That’s exactly what happened. When I prayed for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, He gave it to me. And as He did, my reverence for Him deepened, and my faith began to grow. Even though my foundation was shaky, He built on it… because nothing is too hard for God.

    We Are Forgiven

    And another part of that chapter in Colossians that really stands out for me is verse 14:

    “Jesus canceled the record of debt that stood against us… nailing it to the cross.”

    That means I am forgiven. Every mistake. Every failure. Every sin. All of it… written down as a debt I could never repay… was nailed to the cross. And now it’s gone. Forever. Because Jesus defeated death.

    A Moment Of Reflection And Call To Action

    Looking back, I’m so grateful that I opened my heart and let God’s Word take root in me. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been life-changing in the best ways. If He could meet me in my mess, heal my wounds, and reshape my heart, then I know He can do the same for you.

    My prayer is that you won’t just read the Bible as words on a page, but that you’ll encounter Jesus in a way that changes everything. Because once His love takes root in your heart, transform begins and nothing stays the same.

    My Prayer You 🙏🏾

    Lord,

    I struggle to understand Your word,

    and sometimes it feels impossible to ever get it right.

    But I come humbly before You,

    asking for Your wisdom and

    understanding.

    Remind me that I am complete in You.

    Let the truth of Your Word take root

    deep in my heart, so that I can walk in victory and not defeat.

    Because of Your sacrifice, I can walk free from guilt because it was nailed to the Cross.

    In Jesus name, Amen! 💛

  • Torn Between Two Loves: Sin and Savior

    Torn Between Two Loves: Sin and Savior

    My honest wrestle with sin and spiritual loyalty

    The Conflict of Two Loves

    As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been unfaithful to my Savior. More often than I care to admit.

    It’s not that I don’t care. It’s not that I don’t love Him, because I do. Because of Jesus, I’ve been able to experience a real and personal relationship with God. A love that reminds me I’m seen, chosen, and deeply known.

    The kind of love that covers shame, quiets fear, and heals places I didn’t even know were bleeding.

    It’s beautiful, but it also comes with a cost. A cost that requires me to crucify my flesh daily and walk away from what once comforted me. Because on the other side of that beauty is real darkness. A devil that hates the love God has for His children. And because he hates it, he attacks it.

    He feeds the sinful nature inside all of us, the part that craves gratification, attention, escape. The part that wants what it wants right now. And if you’re not watchful, if you slip, if you’re tired or vulnerable, it creeps in. Quietly. Quickly. Convincingly.

    It’ll sound like:

    “Just this once.”

    “God will forgive you.”

    “No one has to know.”

    But that’s the trick. The enemy’s only real power is deception. And deception, when believed, leads to disobedience.

    The Allure of Sin

    Sin doesn’t always show up looking like a red flag. Sometimes it shows up dressed in comfort, in old habits, in desires that whisper, “This will make you feel better.” It doesn’t come as a threat, it comes as a relief. A temporary escape. A numbing agent.

    For me, sin often comes when I’m tired. Weary. Waiting on God and wondering if He hears me. And before I know it, I find myself entertaining thoughts, habits, or even people that I’ve already told God I was done with. I’ve cried real tears over wanting to be better… wanting to honor God with my body, with my choices, with my loyalty, but then I find myself going back to what I know leads me further from Him.

    Sin is patient. It waits until the moment you’re spiritually dry, emotionally vulnerable, or just hungry for affection, attention, or control. And when it finds an opening, it doesn’t ask permission. It slides in like an old lover who knows just what to say.

    And the worst part? Sometimes I say yes.

    The Rationalization and Rebellion

    “I’ll repent later.”

    “I’ve already done it before, what’s one more time?”

    “I’m human.”

    I’ve used every excuse in the book to justify going back to things I know break God’s heart and mine too, honestly. It’s not just rebellion… it’s self-betrayal. Because every time I choose sin, I betray the healed, whole, obedient version of me that I’ve been praying to become.

    And yet… God doesn’t stop loving me.

    That’s what makes this so complex.

    The same love that should anchor me… sometimes becomes the thing I take for granted.

    The Hidden Cost

    Sin doesn’t send an invoice right away. It waits.

    At first, everything feels good, even freeing. But later… comes the shame. The distance. The confusion. The heavy silence in prayer. The feeling that I can’t look Jesus in the eyes, not because He turned away from me, but because I’m hiding, like Adam and Eve in the garden.

    Sin has cost me clarity, peace, spiritual confidence, and time. It’s made me question whether I’ll ever really change. Whether I’m capable of true commitment to Christ. It’s made me feel like a fraud even while leading or encouraging others.

    But grace won’t stop chasing me.

    The Turning Point

    There’s no single dramatic moment I can point to where everything shifted. For me, it’s been a series of quiet convictions. The kind of conviction that doesn’t shame me, but gently pulls me back to the feet of Jesus. The Holy Spirit doesn’t yell, He whispers.

    Sometimes, the turning point looks like me deleting a number. Saying “no” when my body wants to say “yes.” Being honest in prayer and saying, “God, I still want this… help me not to.”

    And sometimes, the turning point is just getting back up after I fall.

    Coming Back Home

    I’ve learned that repentance isn’t about perfection. It’s about posture.

    God isn’t asking for flawless behavior, He’s asking for a loyal heart.

    And loyalty looks like showing up, even after I’ve messed up.

    It looks like surrendering again and again.

    It looks like trusting that Jesus already paid for my failures, and I don’t have to keep paying for them with shame.

    Every time I return to Him, I find open arms.

    Not punishment. Not distance.

    But grace. Healing. Renewal.

    And somehow… He still calls me His.

    Final Reflection: Torn, But Choosing Love

    I don’t write this from a place of having arrived, I’m still on the journey. I still get tempted. I still feel weak sometimes. But I’m learning how to fight differently. I’m learning how to recognize the lie before I agree with it. I’m learning how to choose God, not just because He loves me, but because I love Him back.

    And that love? It’s worth protecting.

    If you’re struggling like me, torn between what you know is right and what your flesh still craves, you’re not alone. And you’re not too far gone.

    God sees your heart. He sees the effort. The tears. The wrestling.

    Keep coming back to Him.

    Every time you do, He’ll still be there… arms open, heart ready, grace fully available.

    Reflection Question:

    Do I love God enough to walk away from what keeps separating me from Him?

    Prayer

    Lord, I don’t want to keep choosing what pulls me away from You.

    Give me the strength to walk away from what feels good, but harms my soul.

    Remind me of Your love when I feel weak and help me to love You more than I love my comfort, my habits, or my desires.

    Don’t allow me to have peace with the things that try to keep me separate from you.

    Thank You for never giving up on me, even when I’ve wandered.

    Today, I choose You again.

    Amen.