Facts Or Feelings

According to studies, people who never apologize can't bargain alongside "feeling" bad, ashamed, responsible or vulnerable. They desire to experience skillful most themselves.

So nosotros must inquire ourselves: Are nosotros to a greater extent than interested inward feelings or facts? 

No 1 likes feeling bad, ashamed, responsible, or vulnerable, merely sometimes we're all of those things. 

God expects us to repent fifty-fifty if nosotros were alone 10% incorrect as well as the other someone is 90%. That's because repentance maintains a salubrious human relationship alongside the Lord as well as restores our confidence as well as hope. 

God says "I alive inward a high as well as holy place, merely I too alive alongside people who are humble as well as repentant, as well as hence that I tin restore their confidence as well as hope." Isaiah 57:15

The non-repentant may experience "happier," merely alone because they're self-deceived. 

Genuine repentance refreshes, restores, as well as changes us. It brings Christ-lovers factual happiness as well as joy--it brings us "where God lives."

Some skillful thoughts on repentance:  Thoughts on Jesus' Demand to Repent 

Would y'all similar to produce a brusk Bible report on this devotion? Check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.

Flags Or People?

I convey a friend, a sis inward Christ, a kindred spirit. Her refer is Peggie together with she's African-American. 

I'm white.

We've talked nearly deep things together. 

Because I dearest my friend, I wound when she hurts together with rejoice when she rejoices (Romans 12:15).

So when I ask heed Christians defending the Confederate flag, I hurt. 

I've read Confederate documents* together with they unanimously together with unashamedly back upward the slavery of Peggie's ancestors. 

Even if the Confederate flag agency something dissimilar to you, the secession papers prove the Confederacy was strongly committed to slavery.

From the 1860's when the Confederate United States of America claimed their correct to ain Peggie's nifty grandparents, to the 1960's when SC raised the flag to oppose integration, to 2015 when the Charleston murderer honored the flag, it's been intimately associated alongside racism.

Even if you lot aren't racist, the flag's racist symbolism cannot survive denied.

I alive inward the South together with regularly ask heed Christians defend the flag. Even though I avoid political issues inward my devotions, I believe this is a spiritual issue, together with I'm compelled to speak. 

God commands us to regard the feelings of others higher upward our ain (Philippians 2:3-4; Romans 15:2-3).  He commands us to dissever from anything questionable or ungodly (Ephesians 5:8-21) together with thus nosotros don't discredit our witness (2 Corinthians 6:3).

Dear Christians, nosotros must dearest people to a greater extent than than flags. Please quit defending a symbol that together with thus deeply hurts the hearts of others.

* If you've never studied Confederate documents, run across a sampling below. This is non Union propaganda. These are the documents of the Confederacy, clearly defining their principal argue for secession every bit slavery. And these are non the alone Confederate documents that brand this point. They are simply a sampling. 

Texas Secession Papers  This document states that the confederacy assures the "servitude of the African to the white race." 
SC Secession Papers  This document states that the states' correct SC wishes to protect is their correct to ain human beings because "slavery is inward the course of written report of ultimate extinction" if they remain inward the Union.
Cornerstone Speech of Confederate Vice President, Alexander Stephens  This spoken language from the minute highest official inward the Confederacy pulls no punches nearly claiming whites are the "superior race."  
If you'd similar to a greater extent than nutrient for thought:
Separating Myth from Facts
5 Myths About the Confederate Flag
Separating Myth from Facts
Confederate Courage
Separating Myth from Facts
Slavery is a Black & White Issue

Placebo Power

Placebos: 

• Definition: a pith alongside no therapeutic effect.
• Fact: Placebos behave upon our thoughts as well as our thoughts behave upon our health.

For example: 

• The Good: People taking iv placebos a solar daytime recovered from ulcers to a greater extent than apace than those taking two placebos a day. 
• The Bad: People taking placebos alongside imaginary side effects, exhibited those side effects. 

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported that placebos alter feelings too every bit biochemistry because positive thoughts free healing hormones as well as neurotransmitters. 

On the flip side, stressed or pessimistic patients heal to a greater extent than slowly.

When I read these facts, I idea of Philippians 4:8-9: "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is first-class or praiseworthy—think most such things... And the God of peace volition endure alongside you." 

Our thinking affects our body, mortal as well as spirit. 

Spending fourth dimension inwards thanksgiving as well as praise each solar daytime as well as developing positive idea patterns brand our lives healthier. Let's create it!

Source: The Power of the Placebo past times Kim Tranell, Oprah Magazine, June 2013, page 102 
(I read this spell waiting inwards the doctor's office. Who would bring idea God would role an Oprah Magazine for ane of my devotions : ) as well as I bring roughly other ane from an Oprah article I read that same day.)

If yous desire roughly to a greater extent than encouragement most the ability of our thoughts, meet these 1-minute devotions from the archives:
A Half-Full Faith
The Power of Negative Self-Talk
Tell Yourself the Truth

Proverbs 23:7 Does Non Hateful Nosotros Perish What Nosotros Think

We must read Scriptures carefully in addition to inwards context...

Say it oftentimes in addition to people volition eventually believe it.

This is a scientifically proven fact.(ABC News)

Even amidst Christians, oft repeated errors are eventually accepted every bit truth.

One notorious illustration is self-esteem advocates. 

Whole doctrines are based on these words: "as a human being thinketh inwards his heart, then is he." 

Supposedly, nosotros snuff it who nosotros scream back nosotros are, then nosotros should scream back highly of ourselves. 

But to stimulate got this meaning, this poesy must be 

• cut inwards half 
• taken out of context
• quoted solely inwards KJV

In reality, the poesy is speaking nigh the thoughts of a stingy soul in addition to has cypher to create amongst who nosotros snuff it (look it upwards HERE).

Feelings of inferiority or superiority are based on faux views of self. They don't alter the facts. 

I powerfulness scream back I'm approximately other C.S. Lewis,* merely that doesn't brand me one.

It's then of import to banking corporation tally out pop Christian sayings, making certain they're accurate in addition to inwards context (Colossians 2:8).

For a to a greater extent than in-depth article on Proverbs 23:7, read "Do We Become What We Think?"
* I don't : )

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