Shoes in Church

I showered and shaved................ I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat................ In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer............ As I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me....... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine.. But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought,
'This man with the shoes, has no pride. They’re dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said................. A quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again..

Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?

'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began .

The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear.. The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering........ And what I threw in was steep.

I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out.......... What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink' as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me.......... To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service........ As is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow........... And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess.....

But I thanked him for coming.......... For being our guest...

He said, 'My name’s Charlie............ I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes......... But he had a large, wide grin..

'Let me explain,' he said............. Wiping tears from his eyes.

'I've been coming here for months...... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance...........Is not like all the rest.

'But I really do try....................To always look my best.'

'I always clean and polish my shoes...Before my very long walk.'

'But by the time I get here........They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain............ And I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize.......... For daring to sit so near

He said, 'When I get here............ I know I must look a sight.'

'But I thought if I could touch you....Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment............. Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison.... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said.......'And taught me, in part'

'That the best of any man..............Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought,............... This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am.... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.

Live each day as your last, for we never know our time here on earth. Love and Peace My Friends and remember that it is not how we look on the outside but how we look within

Author Unknown

Anything in your life that takes priority over CHRIST becomes an idol. This is not a comfortable truth, but it is a necessary one. GOD has made it clear from the very beginning that He alone is to be worshiped, adored, and placed above all things. In Exodus, GOD commanded, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Yet how often do we allow the cares of this world, the pursuit of success, the love of money, relationships, or even our own desires to rise higher in our hearts than CHRIST?

An idol is not always a carved statue or a false deity. An idol can be the very thing you think you cannot live without, the thing you cling to more tightly than you cling to JESUS. It can be your career, your comfort, your possessions, or even your own self-image. Whenever you place more trust, more energy, more time, or more devotion into something other than CHRIST, you are bowing down to an idol in your heart.

JESUS warned us that we cannot serve two masters. You will love one and despise the other. If your heart is divided, you cannot truly walk in the fullness of what GOD has called you to. This is why He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him daily. He is not asking for part of you; He is asking for all of you.
The tragedy is that idols always disappoint. They promise satisfaction, but they leave you empty. They offer comfort, but they cannot save your soul. They may provide temporary pleasure, but they cannot give eternal life. Only CHRIST can do that. When you choose anything above Him, you are trading the eternal for the temporary, the truth for a lie, and the Savior for a counterfeit.

Ask yourself today: what has taken the throne of your heart? Is it CHRIST, or is it something else? If it is anything other than CHRIST, it must be surrendered. Lay it down at the feet of the One who gave His life for you. GOD will not share His glory with another, and He will not compete for second place in your heart. He is either LORD of all or not LORD at all.

When you tear down every idol and put CHRIST in His rightful place, you will find freedom, peace, and joy that no earthly thing could ever give. Anything else you cling to will eventually pass away, but CHRIST remains forever.
Do not allow idols to rob you of intimacy with GOD. Choose today to place CHRIST above everything, because when He has first place, everything else in your life will finally fall into its rightful place.

#WorshipJesus
#LiveForJesus
#jesussaves
#Soldieroffaith

This is a long one but worth the read!!

The little boy put on his clothes for the cold and then told his father:

"Ok dad I'm ready"

His Dad said: "Ready for what?"

"Dad, it's time to go outside and distribute our flyers."

Dad replied: "Son, it's very cold outside and it's drizzling."

The child looked surprised at his father and said: "But dad, people need to know about God even on rainy days."

Dad replied, "Son, I'm not going outside in this weather."

With despair, the child said: "Dad, can I go alone? Please!"

His father waited for a moment and then said: "Son, you can go. Here's the flyers, be careful."

"Thank you dad!"

And with this, the son went out into the rain. The 11-Year-old walked all the streets of the village, handing out the flyers to the people he saw.

After 2 hours walking in the rain and in the cold and with his last flyer in his hand, he stopped in a corner to see if he saw someone to give the flyer too, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned to the first house he saw, walked to the front door, touched the bell several times and waited, but no one came out.

Finally the boy turned to leave, but something stopped him. The child turned back to the door and began to touch the bell and pound the door strongly with his knuckles. He kept waiting. Finally the door was opened gently.

A lady came out with a very sad look and gently asked:

"What can I do for you, son?
With radiant eyes and a bright smile the child said:

"Lady, I'm sorry if I upset you, but I just want to tell you that God really loves you and that I came to give you my last flyer, which talks about God and His great love

The boy then gave her the flyer.

She just said, "Thank you, son, God bless you!"

Well, next Sabbath morning, the pastor was in the pulpit and when the service began he asked:

"Someone has a testimony or something they want to share?"

Gently, in the back row of the church, an older lady stood up. When she started talking, a radiant and glorious look sprouted from her eyes:

"Nobody in this church knows me. I have never been here, even last Saturday I was not Christian.

My husband died a while ago leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Saturday was a particularly cold and rainy day, and it was also in my heart; that on that day I came to the end of the road, since I had no hope and didn't want to live anymore.

Then I took a chair and a rope and went up to the attic of my house. I tied one end of the rope to the rafters of the roof; then I climbed onto the chair and put the other end of the rope around my neck.

I then stood on the chair, so alone and heartbroken, I was about to throw myself off the chair, when suddenly I heard the loud sound of the door being knocked.

So I thought: "I'll wait for a minute and whoever it is will go"

I waited and waited, but the door knocking was getting louder and louder every time. It got so loud that I couldn't ignore it anymore.

So I wondered, who could it be?
No one ever comes close to my door or come to visit me!
I released the rope from my neck and went to the door, while the bell was still ringing and the door was still being knocked on.

When I opened the door, I couldn't believe what my eyes saw, in front of my door was the most radiant and angelic child I've ever seen.
His smile, ohhh, I can never describe it! The words that came out of his mouth made my heart, dead so long ago, come back to life, when he said with the VOICE OF CHERUB: "Lady, I just want to tell you that God really loves you"

"When the little angel disappeared between the cold and the rain, I closed my door and read every word of the flyer.
Then I went to the attic to remove the chair and rope.

I didn't need them anymore. As you see. Now I am a happy daughter of the King.
As the direction of the boy, when he left, was to this church, I came personally to say thank you to that little angel of God who came just in time and, in fact, to rescue my life from an eternity in hell. And replaced it with an eternity in God's presence. "

Everyone cried in the church.

The Pastor came down from the pulpit to the first bench of the front, where the little angel was sitting; he took his son in his arms and cried uncontrollably.
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Don't let this message die of cold; after reading it, pass it on to others.

Remember, God's message can make a big difference in someone's life, never be afraid to spread it. We just don't know whose life we may change by our actions or words.
So let's make a difference.

#PreachJesus
#LoveLikeJesus
#faith
#Soldieroffaith

You are not here by accident. You were created by GOD, for GOD, and you will stand before GOD. Every ache in your soul, every guilt you try to bury, every thirst this world cannot quench—it’s all pointing to one truth: JESUS IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER.
No religion can save you. No amount of good works can erase your sin. No philosophy, no pleasure, no person can fill the void in your heart. Why? Because only JESUS satisfies the wrath of GOD. Only JESUS died for your sins, was buried, and rose again in power.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12 (ESV)
Are you angry? Bitter? Broken? Lustful? Addicted? Proud? Religious yet spiritually dead? The solution is not self-help. The answer is not trying harder. The answer is not numbing your pain.
The answer is JESUS.
Because of your sin, you are under GOD’s judgment (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But JESUS drank the full cup of GOD’s wrath so that you wouldn't have to. He conquered death, and He now commands all people everywhere to repent(Acts 17:30).
“For GOD made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
There is no hope outside of JESUS, and there is no condemnation inside of JESUS (Romans 8:1). He doesn’t merely offer help—He IS the answer.
He is GOD in the flesh, the Lamb of GOD, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Repent. Bow your knee. Cry out for mercy. JESUS saves every sinner who turns to Him in faith.
But He will crush every rebel who rejects Him.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of GOD remains on him.” – John 3:36 (ESV)
So now I ask you:
What are you waiting for?
JESUS is the Answer.
Not a way—THE Way.
Not one truth—THE Truth.
Not a life coach—THE Life.
Surrender to JESUS, or perish without hope.


#jesussaves
#LiveForJesus
#bodyofChrist
#Soldieroffaith

Young People Returning to Faith: A Hopeful Trend

So many Christians raise their voices in outrage when prayer and the Bible are removed from schools, yet remain silent in their own living rooms. They will fight tirelessly for legislation and policies that keep Scripture in classrooms, but neglect to open the Word with their own children around the dinner table.

They will argue with passion about the importance of faith in education, but fail to be the living teachers of CHRIST in their own homes. The Great Commission is not first a public mission; it is a personal one. It starts within the four walls of the house GOD has entrusted to you.

Our children are not just watching what we say—they are absorbing how we live. They learn more from the conversations we have, the priorities we set, and the way we treat others than they ever will from a school curriculum.

GOD never told the education system to raise up disciples. He told parents to impress His Word upon the hearts of their children, to speak of it when they sit at home, when they walk along the road, when they lie down, and when they get up. That command is found in Deuteronomy, and it still holds weight today.

We cannot delegate the most sacred task of discipleship to strangers, no matter how well-meaning. It is the responsibility of fathers and mothers to teach their children who JESUS is, what He has done, and why He must be the Lord of their lives.

If we do not lead them to CHRIST, the world will gladly lead them away from Him. If we do not take the time to show them GOD’s truth, the enemy will waste no time filling the void with lies.
The Great Commission is not just about going to the ends of the earth—it begins at the end of your hallway.

Before we can reach nations, we must reach our sons and daughters. Before we can disciple strangers, we must disciple our own households. What will it profit us to see revival in the world if our own children grow up without knowing GOD?

The Great Commission starts at home.

If we want to see our communities transformed, it must begin around our tables. If we want the next generation to stand boldly for CHRIST, they must first see us living boldly for Him every single day. GOD has entrusted us with the souls of our children. Let us not hand that responsibility to anyone else.

#raiseupachildinthewaythattheyshouldgo
#PreachJesus
#teachyourchildren
#Soldieroffaith

We aren’t called to measure ourselves against the lives of other believers. We aren’t called to copy someone else’s walk or to mirror the way another Christian prays, serves, or speaks. The standard was never meant to be your neighbor, your pastor, or even the most faithful saint you admire. The standard is CHRIST.

Paul reminds us in Scripture, “Imitate me, as I imitate CHRIST.” His words were never an invitation to fix our eyes on him but a call to look through him to see the One he followed. Too often we get caught comparing ourselves to others, thinking if we can just do what they do, live like they live, or speak like they speak, we’ll be enough. But GOD has not called us to comparison; HE has called us to transformation.

To be like CHRIST is not simply to act religious. It is to love as HE loved, to forgive as HE forgave, to walk humbly as HE walked. It is to carry the cross daily, to deny self, and to live surrendered to the will of the FATHER. Other Christians may stumble, they may disappoint, they may even lead us astray, but CHRIST never fails.

When you live chasing the example of others, you will always fall into either pride or discouragement—pride when you think you’re doing better than them, or discouragement when you feel you’ll never measure up. But when your eyes are fixed on CHRIST, you see the perfect standard of holiness, mercy, and truth, and you realize that by HIS Spirit, GOD is shaping you into HIS likeness.

We aren’t called to be like other Christians. We are called to be like CHRIST. And on the day you stand before GOD, HE won’t ask if you were like your neighbor, your mentor, or your pastor. HE will ask if you were like HIS Son, if you abided in HIM, if HIS life was in you. That is the call, and that is the only life worth living.

#LiveForJesus
#Faith
#jesussaves
#Soldieroffaith

I have seen a lot of people people putting Charlie Kirk on a pedestal.
It is one thing to honor a man of Christ for speaking boldly and preaching the Gospel. It is another thing entirely to place him in the position of idolization.

I personally loved Charlie for the things he did and his accomplishments as a minister of GOD. But I still remember that he was just a man like me.
A sinner.
Fallible.
Unworthy, yet saved by Grace.

I saw a quote earlier that at first glance I agreed with and almost posted it. Then I felt conviction and was reminded of what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth

1 Corinthians 3:4-5

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I will end with the quote I seen but I must first point out that Charlie did what he did to lead people to Christ. If he wanted people to follow anyone, it would be Christ.

If Charlie Kirk impacted your life and has made you question the ways of the world, look to Christ and the Gospel that Charlie lived and died preaching to the world.

It is okay to love Charlie and to honor him. But if you are going to idolize anyone, let it be Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior!

Here is the quote:

"If we feel this way about Charlie Kirk, Imagine how the disciples felt about watching Jesus being crucified."

-- unknown

There are moments in life when the weight of confusion and pain presses so heavily on our hearts that we cannot understand why GOD allowed certain things to happen. We cry out with questions, longing for explanations, but often silence is all we hear. Yet that silence does not mean absence, and those unanswered questions do not mean abandonment. GOD has reasons for everything He allows, even if we cannot see them right now.

Job’s life reminds us of this. He lost his health, his wealth, and even his children, and though he could not comprehend the reason for his suffering, he held onto GOD. At the end, GOD restored him and revealed that He had a greater purpose beyond Job’s understanding. What looked like devastation became a testimony of faith and endurance that still speaks to us today.

Joseph also did not understand why he was betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet years later, he was able to look back and declare in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good.” What once seemed like cruel misfortune was actually part of GOD’s plan to save many lives.

We are called to trust GOD the same way. He does not make mistakes. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

What the enemy intends for harm, GOD can use for good.
What feels like loss may become the very path to growth.
What seems like delay may be the training ground for blessing.

Trusting GOD does not mean we will understand everything. It means we rest in the assurance that He understands everything. It means we lean on His wisdom when ours is too small, and we cling to His love when life feels unloving.

When it is all said and done, peace comes not from having all the answers but from knowing the ONE who holds the answers. GOD has reasons for every single thing He allows, and though you may not see it now, one day you will look back and realize His hand was guiding you through it all. Trust Him.

#TrustGod
#faith
#faithoverfear
#Soldieroffaith

That statement is powerful because it cuts to the heart of eternity. Everything in this life—our possessions, our achievements, our influence, our struggles—will eventually pass away. Scripture consistently points us to the reality that what ultimately matters is whether we belong to JESUS CHRIST. Let’s expand on this truth with the Word of GOD.
Jesus Himself declared in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He does not leave room for multiple paths or human effort to gain eternal life. The deciding factor of where we will spend eternity is whether or not we have received Him as LORD and Savior.
In Mark 8:36–37, Jesus asks a convicting question: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” You could accumulate wealth, power, and recognition, but none of those things will matter when you stand before GOD. What matters is whether your soul has been redeemed by the blood of CHRIST.
Paul emphasizes this in Philippians 3:7–8, where he says: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Paul had status, education, and influence, but he considered all of it worthless compared to knowing JESUS.
Jesus gave a sobering warning in Matthew 7:21–23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” This shows us that outward works, religious activity, or even good deeds are not what matter most—it is whether JESUS knows us and we truly know Him.
In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life plainly: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Eternal life isn’t just living forever; it is living forever in the presence of GOD because we are in relationship with JESUS CHRIST.
Even the thief on the cross in Luke 23:42–43 demonstrates this truth. He had nothing to offer—no good works, no chance to make up for his sins—yet when he cried out, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom,” Jesus replied, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” His salvation rested not in what he had done but in who he had come to know: JESUS CHRIST.
So when life is over and we stand before the throne of GOD, the question will not be how successful we were, how respected we were, or how much we accomplished. The only question that will matter is: Did you know JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and Savior?

#knowJesus
#LiveForJesus
#PreachJesus
#Soldieroffaith

That line echoes Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:5 — “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” It is a powerful declaration that the message of the Gospel is not about personalities, egos, or human wisdom, but about exalting JESUS CHRIST as LORD. Let’s expand on it with Scripture examples:
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was addressing a church divided by factions—some saying, “I follow Paul,” others, “I follow Apollos,” and still others, “I follow Cephas” (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul quickly corrected them, asking, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). His point was clear: the Gospel is not about the messenger, but the One who was crucified and raised again.
In John 3:30, John the Baptist gave us the same principle when he said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John’s role was not to exalt himself, but to point people to the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Peter did the same in Acts. When the lame man at the Beautiful Gate was healed, the people began to look at Peter and John as if they had some power in themselves. But Peter said, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? … His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong” (Acts 3:12,16). The miracle was not about Peter—it was about CHRIST JESUS.
Paul also stressed this in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Paul had the intellect, education, and rhetorical skill to impress people, but he chose instead to strip away self-glory so that CHRIST alone would be proclaimed.
Even in the Old Testament, the pattern was established. Moses was a great leader, but the power was not in Moses himself—it was in the LORD who said, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Moses’ role was to point Israel to GOD, not to elevate his own name.
The danger of preaching ourselves is that it shifts attention away from the Cross. But when CHRIST is preached as LORD, the Spirit draws hearts to repentance and salvation. As Paul said in Romans 10:9, salvation comes through confessing “Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead.”
So, to truly live out “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” means that:
We do not point people to personalities, but to the Person of JESUS.
We do not exalt our gifts, wisdom, or achievements, but the finished work of the Cross.
We do not preach to build a following for ourselves, but to lead souls to the Savior.
The preacher fades, but CHRIST remains eternal. Like Paul, we must be willing to be seen only as servants for Jesus’ sake, so that all glory belongs to Him.

#PreachJesus
#PreachTheGospel
#LiveForJesus
#Soldieroffaith

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.
The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. "I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.
"Oh, no sir. I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings! Skip this one!"
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting! We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandt's! Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10! Let's see the masters!"
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting in the second row shouted, "Now, let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets every thing!"
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

#JesusSaves
#faith
#LiveForJesus
#Soldieroffaith

Look back and thank GOD
Throughout Scripture, the people of GOD were often called to remember what HE had already done. Looking back was not about living in the past, but about recalling the faithfulness of GOD so they would give thanks and strengthen their trust for the future.
When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, GOD commanded them to take twelve stones from the river and set them up as a memorial (Joshua 4:6–7). The purpose was so that future generations would look back and remember, giving thanks for GOD’s mighty deliverance.
David, when facing Goliath, looked back and remembered how GOD had delivered him from the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:37). That remembrance gave him confidence to face a giant that seemed impossible to defeat. Gratitude for GOD’s past victories fueled his faith for present battles.
Even in the New Testament, Paul often looked back with thanksgiving. In Philippians 1:3–5 he said, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” His heart overflowed with gratitude as he remembered the faithfulness of GOD in the lives of believers.
Look forward and trust GOD
Looking forward requires faith. We may not see the future clearly, but Scripture reminds us that GOD is already there, and HE holds all things in HIS hands.
Abraham is a perfect example. Hebrews 11:8 says that “by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… not knowing where he was going.” He trusted GOD for what he could not yet see, and because of that, GOD counted him righteous.
The Israelites, though fearful at the Red Sea, were told by Moses in Exodus 14:13, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.” GOD called them not to look at the waves of fear but to look forward in trust, because HE was about to make a way where there was no way.
Jesus Himself taught us to trust GOD for the future when He said in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” HE wanted us to live free of anxiety, leaning fully on the Father’s provision and care.
Paul also gave encouragement in Philippians 3:13–14: “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Trusting GOD meant pressing forward with confidence, knowing the future was secure in CHRIST.
So the message becomes clear: when we look back, we remember GOD’s faithfulness and give thanks. When we look forward, we rest in HIS promises and place our trust in HIM.

#ThankGod
#TrustGod
#faith
#Soldieroffaith

Romans 12:21 is a short verse, but it carries a depth of wisdom that touches every part of the Christian walk: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
To be overcome by evil means to allow hatred, bitterness, vengeance, and sin to rule our response to wrongs done against us. Evil does not always appear as open violence or obvious wickedness—it can sneak in through resentment, pride, selfishness, or an unwillingness to forgive. When we respond in kind to evil, we allow it to win twice: once in the act committed against us, and again in the way it shapes our heart and behavior. But the apostle Paul calls us to a higher way—the way of Christ.
Jesus’ Example
On the cross, Jesus showed the greatest demonstration of overcoming evil with good. Instead of calling down legions of angels or cursing His executioners, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Evil sought to destroy Him, yet through His sacrifice, salvation was opened to the very people who nailed Him to the cross. The cross looked like evil’s victory, but it was GOD’s triumph of goodness and grace.
Joseph’s Example
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph looked back on the betrayal of his brothers who sold him into slavery and declared, “You meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” Instead of seeking revenge, Joseph extended forgiveness and provision. He broke the cycle of evil by responding with mercy.
David’s Example
David had the opportunity to kill Saul, the man who relentlessly pursued him out of jealousy and fear. Yet David refused, saying, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6). David trusted GOD’s justice rather than taking matters into his own hands. By sparing Saul’s life, he overcame evil with good, displaying both restraint and reverence for GOD.
Paul’s Teaching
Earlier in Romans 12, Paul instructs, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14), and “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20). These commands are not suggestions but radical ways of disarming evil by responding in love. Evil expects retaliation—it is confounded when met with kindness.
Stephen’s Example
In Acts 7, as Stephen was being stoned to death for his testimony about Christ, he echoed Jesus’ words, praying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Even in his final moments, Stephen refused to let hatred or bitterness rule his heart. His goodness reflected Christ so powerfully that Saul, who stood approving of his death, would later encounter Jesus and become Paul—the very apostle writing Romans 12.
The Call for Us
When insulted, the flesh longs to insult back. When wronged, the natural desire is revenge. But Scripture teaches that we do not fight evil with the weapons of this world (2 Corinthians 10:4). The Spirit equips us with forgiveness, patience, love, and truth. Evil is not truly defeated when we crush our enemies—it is overcome when hearts are transformed, when love breaks chains of hatred, and when the light of Christ shines in dark places.
So, to live out Romans 12:21 means:
When slandered, we respond with truth and grace.
When betrayed, we choose forgiveness over bitterness.
When persecuted, we endure with joy, entrusting ourselves to GOD.
When faced with hatred, we love—even when it costs us.
Evil seeks to reproduce itself. But goodness, rooted in CHRIST, is stronger. The victory of goodness over evil is not just seen in great biblical stories, but also in everyday moments when believers choose love over hate, prayer over cursing, and trust in GOD’s justice over personal revenge.

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Galatians 5:16 – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.