#godfirstgodalwaysreply

[covenantfaith]

I have been really busy and stressed lately and I'm scared that I lose my faith. What do I do?

I am so sorry for my extremely late reply. Be cautious of when you’re scared about this issue and address it with faith. Fear only the LORD, start there...FEAR ONLY THE LORD. Let your reverence humbly show you that it is still HIM you worship because fearing the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). But more than that let this show HIM you still declare HIM LORD over you. Let your desire for wisdom, be a reminder that you desire HIM. And from there let your desire for HIM lead you to make practical steps toward building faith. Pray daily, it doesn’t matter how long, and read the Bible. Pastor John Piper goes into depth studying the Bible. Watch His videos on Desiring God for some guidance https://youtube.com/c/desiringGod

Desiring God

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Learn more at desiringGod.org.

Please memorize this verse.....

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

By His Grace, Sheela

[covenantfaith]

Hello, I just found your blog and I love it! I’d like to know if you’re familiar with the teachings about the law of attraction and whether it’s something right for a Christian to practice or become involved in. What are your thoughts?

Thank you for your kind words and I’m so sorry for my extremely late reply. I used to dabble in LOA when I read self help books. The Holy Spirit let me know gently at first then He reproved me countless times because I was hard headed. The practice is not righteous and I learned my lesson the hard way through experiencing anxiety. I’ve had anxiety before all this but with LOA the anxiety was panic attacks. GOD said let there be no other god before Him (Exodus 20:3), and at the time when I practiced LOA my god was money.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

My heart literally felt divided and the LORD kept reminding me I could only choose one. Honestly I believe it’s much easier for non Christians to have success with it, and I remember even saying to myself something along the lines of “This stuff would be easier if God wasn’t in the way”. I believe all Christians who practice LOA will be disciplined. The LORD will fight for anyone when His Spirit in them is not at peace. I also believe that non Christians who find success in LOA will be punished, if not on earth then after death.

Our main purpose on earth is to serve the LORD. Putting Him first allows us to please Him in all we do and that is the reason He blesses us. God wants us to walk by faith in Him and not by any other faith apart from Him.

By His Grace, Sheela

[covenantfaith]

Do atheists go to hell?

I am so sorry for my extremely late reply. Yes, atheists will go to hell. Please read Matthew 25:31-46.

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The way to God is through having a daily relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

By His Grace, Sheela

CHRISTIAN FAITH FOR MENTAL HEALTH GUIDED MEDITATIONS & PRAYERS sheelaleigh.com SENT AN ASK? #godfirstgodalwaysreply

[covenantfaith]

Hi...I've talked to you before. I'm go through some things. I have no where else to say this but: i wish i was a lesbian. Idk what your stance is but i don't care. I believe this is wrong but i want it. I have to go eat now. -Wing

Hi Wing, I’m so sorry for my extremely late reply. If you don’t care what my stance is I wonder why you would even take the time to message me. I can’t say anything that will change your mind. It’s simply not in my hands but in the LORD’S. I’m going to keep praying for you, that’s all I can do. ♥️

By His Grace, Sheela

[covenantfaith]

how do i know if my current relationship is gods will and how do i know if it’s a blessing or a lesson

Sorry for my late reply. God’s will will always lead you to obey Him. You’ll have more faith that your current relationship is God’s will if you had been praying for them, yourself, or your relationship since the beginning of your union, and especially if you had prayed for someone like them to come into your life. If you have never prayed for them, yourself, or your relationship, or you do but rarely, maybe now would be a great time to keep the habit. If you have even the slightest bit of faith God put them in your life either as a lesson or as your partner for life, prayer is never too late.

If you’ve been praying, you’ll know it’s a blessing if you can see yourself maturing and it’s the same if they were only a lesson. But if you have not been praying often enough, the relationship will only feel like a lesson (in a way that it only has negativity attached to it). And if you are hurting for some reason in this relationship and you are not growing spiritually, perhaps the person you are with is not the one He intends you to be with forever, at least not for now. As long as you’re returning to God (praying, reading your Bible, listening to sermons), then your faith and confidence will grow knowing that you’re in the right place with the right someone. If they lack faith or they’re not on the same page as you spiritually yet they still show instances that convict you they have potential in the LORD’S Kingdom (because they’re not saved or they’re just spiritually young), as long as you continue to pray for their spiritual growth and/or salvation, nothing is impossible with God.

If you believe you can stay in this relationship and have enough faith to keep praying and doing God’s will, which means remaining righteous in your words, thoughts, and actions, He is faithful to reward you by strengthening your confidence that this is in fact God’s will for you. By focusing on God alone and knowing that He is your ultimate joy and happiness, you will know if this relationship is truly a blessing or if it’s time for you to move on. If you believe growing closer to God while staying in this relationship is too difficult for you, then you’ll know for sure it’s only a lesson and nothing more. I hope I have not confused you and I’m praying you find peace in where you decide to stand and how you perceive this relationship. ♥️

By His Grace, Sheela (via godfirstgodalways)

Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

[covenantfaith]

Is smoking weed and taking other recreational drugs a sin? It's not legal in my country but I'm super curious

Sorry for my late reply and thank you for this. The LORD commands us to be of sober mind. Smoking weed and doing other recreational drugs alter a person’s mind and that goes against having a sober mind.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

When our minds are not sober, we most likely give into temptation and therefore sin because we lose the will to stay disciplined. And the more often we choose not to stay sober the more we lose touch of reality where we allow Satan to really manipulate us. We no longer make decisions based on wisdom we once had and we prevent the wisdom we could have gained, yet we might even think we’re wiser while intoxicated but that’s just one of Satan’s schemes.

Intoxication is dangerous whether the one using is addicted to the drug or not. Each and every time a person uses they’re further away from God’s truth. And so when a Christian uses and they’ve been convicted that it’s sin for them to smoke weed or do other recreational drugs, yet they continue to do so, anxiety for them becomes the valid reason why they continue to take part in it, instead of gaining the faith that all you really need is Christ. Stay safe and God bless ♥️

By His Grace, Sheela (via godfirstgodalways)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

[covenantfaith]

Is bisexuality a sin?

Sorry for my late reply and thank you for this. Behavior originates from our thoughts. We eventually act out what we’ve been magnifying (subconsciously or not). And whether anyone is bisexual or homosexual, that person is responsible for how they form their beliefs. I believe anyone can be bisexual (being naturally and sexually attracted to both sexes), but if they are also Christian and they deny themselves (Luke 9:23) and strive to give God glory for their actions, which should be righteous....then they are not sinning. Homosexuality (acting on same sex attraction) is sin, so yes, bisexuality is a sin because part of it is still acting on same sex attraction.

A bisexual who is Christian can stand there or sit down doing nothing and they are not sinning. But as soon as they have thoughts that lead to identify themselves as bisexual or having any bisexual sexual thoughts at all, or begin to act on same sex attraction (married or not), they are sinning. If they are married to the opposite sex however and have sex with their spouse while having sexual thoughts with the same sex, they are still sinning. Since transgender people can also be bisexual, and as long as they have the opportunity to deny themselves yet choose to continue identifying themselves as anything but the sex they were assigned at birth, that is the sin in being bisexual. If a bisexual does not have a personal relationship with Christ, they would carry on not knowing their sin in their sexuality.

There are many homosexual, bisexual, and transgender Christians. Some are young in faith so they most likely still identify as being gay, bisexual, transgender or what not..... but if they continue on the narrow path, they are living for God’s glory who sees all efforts, and that’s all that matters. Every Christian, LGBTQ or straight has their own struggles. Some are luke-warm, some have just come back to the heart of worship...it’s a journey and we’re all growing. And there are also those whose identities have so much transformed from being homosexual, bisexual, and transgender, what not or even being just straight because they’ve mastered the discipline in denying themselves to find their true identity in Christ. All sins are equal, not one is more detestable than the other. God is a righteous judge. I hope and pray I have not confused you. God bless! ♥️

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

Mark 7:20-23 Then he continued, “It’s what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean, because it’s from within, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come, as well as sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these things come from inside and make a person unclean.”

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Ephesians 4:22-24 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

By His Grace, Sheela (via godfirstgodalways)

[covenantfaith]

I have been trying to better myself in God's eyes and the thing I'm struggling with most is patience. Any ideas to help me become more patient?

Absolutely, God bless you! I was a person that didn’t have patience especially towards my own family. So the LORD put me in situations that had others be impatient of me. And when I received this discernment, I started to track my habits concerning impatience. Trust that you’re growing spiritually mature because your impatience reveals to yourself how much you hate it. It’s biblical to put God first, others second, and ourselves last. But I’m sure you’ve heard others saying you can’t love others if you don’t love yourself enough. If God first loved us that’s how we can even begin to love (1 John 4:19). If God commands us to love Him first, then others, it just means we’ve got to make sure He is behind our reason for loving others. And in loving ourselves, we must always return to the reason that He loved us first.

So with loving others, comes patience, forgiveness, showing grace and mercy, which altogether make for a humble person. Humble people have beauty, honor, perseverance, and integrity. In order to have more patience, I believe we often need to tell ourselves to make room for these qualities in our hearts. I would start with listing down areas of my life I grow impatient about and pray for those specific things, but I would definitely pay attention to situations concerning others. This is putting God first because you want to love others as He loves them. When you love God first, He takes care of your desires (wanting to be patient with yourself in this walk), so thank Him for things like relationships, knowledge, wisdom, resources and the faith you already have because if you’re not aware of these blessings, you will not be aware of when God is building patience in your heart.

Once you have a list, bring them up in prayer in the early mornings and last thing in the evenings. Take your time with them and journal about it. Eventually they should sound similar to self-evaluation entries. This is the cycle I try to remind myself when I’ve forgotten where to start.

Put God first.....love, praise, and thank Him for creating you with a purpose, who is so patient with you.

Put others second.....share that same love you’ve grown to show yourself. Make sure you’re showing grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Put yourself last.....recharge by returning to God. Make reflections, recommit, and forgive yourself if you have to. Remember why you are choosing to love yourself. Your reason should always be righteous because God is behind it. He cares about your heart.

In the Old Testament, The Ten Commandments was directed towards the Israelites. But we follow the commands as the new Christians in the New Teastament, which we are in. There are mainly 2 commands...love God first, which pertains to the first 5 commands of the Ten (about loving God) and love others second (the second half of the Ten about loving others) (Matthew 22:37-39). There is no verse that directly supports we must put ourselves last, but since it is not mentioned, it’s Christlike to do so and also putting ourselves last should lead us back to God. I hope and pray this has helped. Your patience will grow because you will put God first, others second, and yourself last. I will be praying that patience overcomes you. The LORD loves rewarding His peace to those who seek it. ♥️

By His Grace, Sheela (via godfirstgodalways)

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Lamentations 3:25-27 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Colossians 3:12-15 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’