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Question:
"My life is filled with thoughts that I am just not good enough. How can I improve my self-esteem?" - Nancy from California
Answer:
- Recognize your true value. There is a difference between a big ego and understanding how much God values you.
- Put a stop to harmful thought patterns.
- Identify positive people in your life and spend more time with them.
- Begin new thought patterns. Replace each negative thought by reminding yourself how much God cares about you.
- Study and memorize God’s Word. Remember what Christ did for you out of His love.
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Question:
"How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?" -- James, CA
Answer:
When seeking God’s will make sure what you are asking for is not something the Bible forbids. Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing will glorify God and help you grow spiritually. Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult. People want God to tell them specifically what to do—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, etc. God rarely gives people information that direct and specific. God allows us to make choices regarding those things. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will.” God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will. If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life, God will place His desires on your heart.
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Question:
"Is smoking a sin?" -- Stan, AR
Answer:
Smoking is never directly mentioned in the Bible. We do find that there are principles, however, that definitely apply to smoking. The Bible commands us not to allow our bodies to become "mastered" by anything. "Everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me -- but I will not be mastered by anything" 1 Corinthians 6:12. Smoking is definitely strongly addictive. Later in the same passage we are told, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health. There are many true believers in Jesus Christ who smoke. Smoking does not prevent a person from being saved. Nor does it cause a person to lose salvation. Smoking is no less forgivable than any other sin, smoking is a sin that should be forsaken and, with God’s help, overcome.
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Question:
"I struggle with some particular sins that seems to have a stronghold on me. What can I do?" -- Brian, MA
Answer:
We all sin, and we all commit the same sins over and over. Even the mighty Paul had this problem. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:18-19) When you sin, confess and receive your forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) For God, that’s the end of it and He forgets it ever happened. You do the same. Repeat the verse from James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you .Guilt does not come from God. You resist the devil by seeing the guilt for what it is, his effort to keep you from God, and rejecting it. Stay in fellowship with the other Christians and believe the word of God that you are free.
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