The Restored Life

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Tag: Life in Christ

Walking in Love — June 25, 2025

Walking in Love

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Week 1 Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Hello everyone!! This week, we start our discussion on the Fruit of the Spirit. Each week, we will explore one particular fruit. Today’s topic is love. ❤️It’s all about love!!❤️ We will discuss how we can walk in love as a believer. Navigating through scripture will show us what love is, our requirement to love, the example that God provides for us, and how it can be expressed to others.

First, we can understand what love is when we read I Corinthians 13:4-8a. It gives us a perfect understanding of what love should and should not be. I will begin with what love is. In the passage of scripture, we see that love is longsuffering. This means it is showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people. Next, love is kind. In showing kindness, we are generous, helpful, and thinking about other people’s feelings. Also, love rejoices in the truth. Verse 7 lets us know that it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. These describe what love is. Additionally, it is important to recognize what love should not consist of. When we display genuine love, it is not envious. It’s not boastful of oneself. It should not be prideful. Love is not self-seeking, only looking out for the benefit of oneself. It does not behave unbecomingly or rudely. Love is not provoked to anger. Authentic love thinks no evil. It does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Lastly, it never fails. As believers, we can take 1 Corinthians 13 to analyze if we are truly displaying love the way God has purposed for each of us.

This love is agape love. It’s considered the highest form of love. It is different from storge (familial), eros (romantic), and philia (brotherly/friendship) love. It is unconditional and selfless. What we will discuss further in this post is that our Heavenly Father perfectly shows us how to display agape love. But, before we look at the Father’s example, we must examine the requirement we have as believers.

The Love Command

In the above scripture, Jesus lets us know that we are commanded to love one another. This is not a suggestion but a requirement. He reiterates that when we love each other, we display that we are His disciples. The agape love we give to others shows the world who we belong to. When we choose to love selflessly, we are being Christ-like.
Loving others is not always an easy task, especially when dealing with difficult and mean-spirited people. But we have to be mature enough to love the person even when they can’t reciprocate it. Our ability to love is not based on the other person and his/her willingness to embrace us with love. We love because we are instructed to do so. With our Savior giving us this command, we have a perfect model of selfless, unconditional love.

Our Example of Love

Our Father is the template for love. God is love. We look to Him to learn how to love others. In our love walk, we need practice. There may be times when we fall short and do not show love the way that Yah has modeled for us. But when we read the Word, we can mirror God in operating in unconditional love.  We see the depth of His love in Romans 5:8 and in John 3:16. It displays sacrificial love. God sent His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. In return, the Son willing laid down His life to be the ultimate sacrifice. There is no greater love than that. And, by grace, the free gift of God, all who put their faith in Christ are saved. Because of Christ’s finished work of cross (death, burial, and resurrection), we have life through Him. If we ever struggle with feeling loved, that should be the cure. Through the Truth of God’s Word, we can see and believe that we are fully loved. And, no one can love us more than our Father. 

In I John 4:7-21, it emphasizes loving others. It’s a call to action. God loves us, so our response is to love others. When we love, it shows that we abide in God, and He abides in us. As I previously mentioned, displaying love shows the world who we belong to. While the world dishes out hate, we choose love. But it’s not a tolerant, all accepting love. It does not think evil, nor does it rejoice in iniquity. This love does not make allowances for sin or any type of wickedness. It is not tolerating what God has condemned but giving the truth in love led by the Spirit of God.

At the end of the passage, God instructs us to love our brother. He shows us that we can not genuinely love Him if we don’t love our fellow brethren.  We must love the people we do life with. We can not harbor hate in our hearts and truly love the Father. In spite of conflicts, disagreements, and even offenses, we must forgive so we do not become bitter and harbor resentment. Consequently, bitterness and resentment can turn into hatred. This shows us the reason why we need to be long-suffering. Otherwise, we would constantly stay in a state of offense, unable to love our fellow brethren. God shows us that the selfless, sacrificial love we give to others must be enduring and genuine.

Genuinely Loving Others

Dissimulation: the fact of trying to hide your real feelings, character, or intentions (from the Cambridge dictionary)

As believers, our love needs to be genuine. Our words and deeds should be in alignment with each other. When we say we love others, we should follow through in our actions. Anything else is merely lip service and insincere. It is possible to feign an “I love you.” But, what we do, or rather how we treat others, proves something entirely different. I want to reiterate the importance of working through differences, disagreements, and conflicts. We can not afford to let trivial things become magnified, bringing in discord, which causes a breakdown in our love walk with others. Genuine love takes maturity. It is giving up the right to be right. It involves putting off any selfishness and ego.  Instead, we work through the challenges and hardships together in order to achieve a peaceful resolution and love one another sincerely.

In Romans 12:10, we are instructed to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love. This lets us know that we must show love to each other as in a family. Just as families may have disagreements that can be resolved, the same applies within the body of Christ. As believers, we make up the members of the body, which represent God’s spiritual family. It is important for us to see each other as family enabling us to better love. We operate in selflessness and honor when we give preference to one another.

If we still are having a difficult time displaying love, we need Yah to reveal anything hidden in our hearts that’s hindering us from genuinely loving others. With His guidance, we can identify the root and work towards resolving the issue. But regardless of the issue, we must be mature enough to address it, choose to forgive, desire to reconcile, and then operate in love. No matter what we face in our love walk, we should always remember who our example is. We can turn to our Father, who is the blueprint. When our ability to love is being tested, we have the Word to guide us in agape love. And, thankfully we have the Holy Spirit who brings to our remembrance the Word which we have meditated on and hidden within our hearts. That is why it is vital to meditate on God’s Word so it can be utilized when real-life situations occur.

RECAP

LOVE is…   LOVE is not…

  • Longsuffering
  • Kind
  • Rejoicing in the Truth
  • Bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things
  • Selfless and Sacrificial
  • Envious
  • Boastful of oneself
  • Prideful
  • Self-seeking
  • Unbecoming or rude in behavior
  • Provoked to anger
  • Thinking evil
  • Rejoicing in unrighteousness

Love never fails.

Think About It: Personal Reflection

  • Am I genuinely walking in love?
  • In what ways can I better show love to others around me?
  • Challenge: Find someone to sow a seed of love into his/her life.
**Scriptures used from the New King James Bible and the authorized King James Bible

Next Week’s Blog

Love is.. —
Walking in Purity — June 18, 2025

Walking in Purity

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Hello everyone! In the previous blog, we discussed honoring God with our bodies. And, in order to do so, it’s important that we walk in purity. Today, we will continue this discussion. Purity is often mentioned pertaining to sexual purity, but it actually encompasses more than that. It involves us living free from all immorality, not solely sexual immorality. It is important to understand that as believers, we are called to live purely. This is not a movement or a sub-culture. It’s not reserved for a select group of believers. It is an expectation for all who are saved putting their faith in Jesus Christ.

We must understand that purity is more than abstaining from sexual immorality. You can be a virgin and still not be pure. The absention of fornication is not the equivalent to purity. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss areas in our lives that affect our purity and how we can be intentional about successfully walking in purity.

It Starts in the Heart

In the above passages, Jesus lets us know that we are defiled (made impure) by what is in our hearts. When we make the decision to speak or act on something impure, it was first conceived in our hearts. It is important for us to recognize that whether or not we are operating in purity is based on the condition of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, “[9] The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins [test the emotions], even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” We are unable to know what is hidden in our hearts, but our omniscient Father has the ability to search our hearts thoroughly, examining it. With Yah, nothing is hidden from Him.

To walk in purity, we must know that we do not trust in or follow our hearts. It is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Instead, we are to trust in God to examine us and reveal any areas of impurity. It may not be easy or comfortable, but it is necessary.

Examining our Lives: What is in our Hearts

When we give the Father access to reveal what is hidden in our hearts, we may attempt to avoid what He confronts us with: the Truth. We can not run from it or continue to turn a blind eye to it. Doing so will only cause more issues and allow the impurities to stay in our hearts.  Instead, what He reveals should bring us to a place of confession and repentance. Any revealed sin is for us to confess to the Father and turn from it, not to continue holding on to it. It brings conviction, not condemnation. The revelation we receive should cause us to draw near to the Father with a repentant heart rather than distancing ourselves from Him.

Also, we need to examine our lives for areas that can lead to impurity. With the help of the Holy Spirit, He can show us these areas. One major area is sexual immorality  (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, etc). When we use our bodies in any unlawful act that is prohibited by God, we are defiling our bodies. As it was mentioned in the previous blog, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So when we commit sexual immorality, we defile the very place where God dwells. We can not participate in unlawful sexual activities and walk in purity. We must yield our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and be a vessel of sanctification and honor. It is vital that we give up any lifestyle of sexual immorality if we truly desire to walk in purity.

The next two areas are oftentimes avoided in discussion: masturbation and pornography. I would group these under sexual immorality, but they needed to be discussed on their own. With the topic of masturbation, there are varying opinions on its acceptance or rejection. I find myself posing the questions: Since God has designed sex to be enjoyed between husband and wife, how would He view a person seeking sexual gratification with himself or herself? Would He condone this behavior since it is outside of His original design for sex? This is not to condemn anyone for what they may have done but to consider if all our sexual behaviors or practices are pure in nature.

With pornography this encompasses pornographic sites, videos, magazines, and erotic fiction. These are all a threat to our purity. We can not maintain a lifestyle of purity if we continue to have various types of pornography in our lives. It is not harmless, nor is it “adult entertainment” as it’s often characterized in society. Pornography is damaging to our lives and our relationships with others. It opens the door to lust and perversion. It changes the way we view sex and others. It impacts the purity of our minds. Our perspective shifts from what is pure and holy to what is impure and profane. Not only does it lead to impure thoughts, likewise even our sexual desires can become distorted from what we have witnessed in pornography.

A subcategory within pornography is erotic fiction. This type of literature is just as damaging to the purity of our minds. Even though there are no visuals, the author provides vivid descriptions that leave nothing to the imagination. It has the capability to stir up the same lustful feelings as if you were watching pornography.

The next area I will discuss is our conversations, whether it is with others or the inner dialogue we have with ourselves. If we engage in gossip, slander, and back biting, that affects our purity. When we participate in these actions, it affects the way we see and/or interact with others. It can cause strife, division, and overall, a breakdown in the relationship. Even when we don’t respond to another person entertaining it, we shouldn’t give our ear to these ungodly conversations. We should remove ourselves from it.

Another area that affects our purity is entertainment. The entertainment we watch or listen to is very influential. The TV shows and movies we choose to watch matter. The music and podcasts we decide to listen to matter. We have to be mindful of the types of entertainment we readily accept. We must guard our gates, especially our eye and ear gates, because what we receive through entertainment can be a hindrance in our purity walk. We each have to be responsible for examining what we receive and assessing what message is being given.

The last area I want to discuss is social media. Who and what we follow can impact our purity. If we are intentional on walking purely, we have to go through a removal process letting go of the things that serve as stumbling blocks. That may include unfollowing certain accounts that promote ungodly material and stir up impure thoughts. Also, it wouldn’t be wise to follow people who do nothing but stir up arguments, strife, and division. It is necessary to do a clean sweep through our friends or followers list to remove any hindrances to our purity.

After we have allowed God to search our hearts and we have examined our lives, we can focus on pursuing a lifestyle with a pure heart.

Purity of Heart

To walk in purity, we must have a pure heart. This involves us inviting the Holy Spirit to lead us through sanctification. We need the impurities to be removed from our hearts. It is the combination of making practical decisions and the Spirit of God doing a work on the inside of us. The practical steps are removing things in our lives that are unmistakably sinful and impure. As well as turning from any sin the Father has revealed to us. We each have to have the desire to live purely. There is a difference in doing so out of obligation compared to a genuineness of wanting to please God living in a way that glorifies Him. In the challenging areas, we can seek the Father to give us the endurance we need to continue walking in purity. Throughout life, temptations will come, and there will be times we need more of His strength to be able to resist. In areas of weakness, we are able to pull on His strength to continue walking in purity. And if we fall, we need His grace that we do not have to stay in a low place of condemnation. Instead, with a repentant heart, we are able to confess our sin to the Father and turn from it.

Put it into Practice: Walking in Purity

  • Examination and Revelation
    • Allow the Father to search our hearts to reveal any impure areas (sin) within us.
  • Confession
    • Confess our sin to the Father
  • Repentance
    • Turn from the sin and turn to God
    • Our heart posture has to change toward sin
  • Belief
    • Believe that we are forgiven and that the sin is covered under the blood of Jesus
  • Purification and Refining
    • Allow God to purify and refine us, removing the impurities in our hearts
  • Mind Renewal
    • Renew our minds with the Word of God
      • Removes the filth (impurity) within our hearts to be aligned with what is pure and holy
  • Walk in Godly wisdom: Guard our Hearts
    • We must keep guard over our gates: Eyes – what we watch; Ears – what listen to, including conversations with others; Mouth – what we speak; Mind/Thoughts – what we meditate on
      • Sexually explicit materials
        • Pornography (videos, websites, and magazines), erotic novels, romance (sexually graphic) novels, etc.
      • Entertainment: Music, movies, and TV shows
        • Remove entertainment that is a stumbling block and entices us to sin or glorifies sinful behavior
      • Social Media
        • Unfollow social media accounts that can be a possible hindrance to your purity lifestyle.
        • Unfriend: Don’t be afraid to unfriend people who post material that can be a stumbling block for you. (Pleasing God takes priority)
  • Separation
    • People: Separate ourselves from others who will entice us to sin, drawing us away from a lifestyle of purity
      • BOUNDARIES: There are times when we can not completely separate ourselves but instead exercise Godly wisdom in how to handle our interactions.
    • Places: If we are intentional about walking in purity, there are places we should not go as believers. (Be led by the Holy Spirit)
  • Community
    • Surround ourselves with other believers who are intentional on walking in purity as well

Think About It

  • What is influencing your perspective of purity?   The Word…Family…Friends…The Church…Community…The culture of society…Media…Entertainment…Social Media
    • Does it help or hinder you from walking in purity?

Scriptures to Meditate on: Psalm 51:10 KJV (posted below) and Proverbs 4 KJV (posted separately)

Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. 

**Scriptures used from the New King James Bible and the authorized King James Bible

Next Week’s Blog

Next week, we will start discussing the Fruit of the Spirit. Each week, for the next 9 weeks, we will focus on one fruit of the Spirit.

1st Week: LOVE 🍉

Restored Identity — May 14, 2025

Restored Identity

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Made New in Christ

✨️We must be born again (born from above; regenerated: spiritually reborn or converted)✨️

✨️In Christ, each of us is a new creation.✨️

✨️Faith in Christ ➡️ Children of God✨️

✨️The sons of God ➡️ Led by the Spirit of God ➡️ Receive the Spirit of adoption ➡️ Heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ✨️

Hello everyone. This week’s topic is very personal to me. From my teens into early adulthood, I struggled with my identity and fully understanding who I am in Christ. I grew up going to church. Throughout my young adult life, I served in various ministries. I was good at being productive and “doing.” I thoroughly enjoyed serving both in and outside of the church. Wherever there was a need, if I had the time and the ability, I had no problem helping out. But in spite of my willingness to serve and help others, I had one area I did not grasp. That area was sonship. I believed that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I believed in the finished works of the cross. I put my faith in Jesus, who I publicly confessed and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. I was even baptized at the age of 11. Nevertheless, I struggled with seeing myself as a child of God. I knew I was saved, but I had a difficult time comprehending God as my Father. 

It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I became aware how my fractured relationship with my natural father affected the way I saw my Heavenly Father. I viewed God through a distorted lens. I began to associate Yahweh with the negative experiences I had with my own father. I was very standoffish and not trusting. I struggled with praying to God. I avoided having open and honest conversations with Him. I had more fear of Him than love for Him.  This was not a reverential fear–instead it was a fear of approaching Him or making a mistake dreading the possible consequences. Where the Word instructs us to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need–that was not me by any means. (Heb. 4:16) I was approaching God with timidity or often not at all.

But through counseling, Yah revealing Himself to me and reading the Word, I began to understand the true character of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to identify the false beliefs that I had accepted about Yah. Additionally, reading the Word helped me to learn the truth and come out of agreement with the lies. My perception of Yah had changed. I no longer saw Him solely as God the Father, but He was my Father. Confronting and healing from the lies was a process. It didn’t happen overnight–it took place over a timespan of a few years. The healing and restoration that transpired in my life was necessary. I am grateful the scales were removed from my eyes, and I was able to receive the love of the Father–not only receiving His love, but knowing in the depths of my soul that I am His child. During that time, I was overwhelmed by His love. Prior to this, I believed that I was unlovable and it was challenging for me to receive love. I was not affectionate, and I struggled to tell loved ones “I love you.” I was very closed off even though deep down I wanted to be more expressive in my love for others. 

I discovered that once I saw my Heavenly Father through the correct lens, likewise, I could see my natural father correctly. It allowed me to forgive my dad for the areas where he fell short as a father. It allowed me to extend grace and no longer hold on to the anger I harbored from childhood. I will tell you from the outside I appeared quiet and reserved. But inwardly, I was full of anger and resentment. I was short-tempered with little to no patience with others. There was so much I held inside, suppressing it for years. I didn’t know how to express myself in a healthy manner. While pursuing a relationship with Yah, it gave me the opportunity to confront the issues I never addressed but had caused me pain for many years. I was able to cry out to my Father and know that He was concerned about me.

In my heart, I knew He heard me and would not leave me in the state I was in. It allowed me to see my life from a different perspective. Whatever I didn’t receive from my dad, I always had in God. He made up for what had been lacking in my childhood and adulthood. It was as though I could see clearly for the first time in my life. I felt restored and loved. The anger and rejection I once felt was replaced with love and fulfillment in knowing that God had been with me all my life.  Through the highs and lows, He was walking alongside me–oftentimes carrying me through it. He had been caring for and preserving me from childhood into adulthood.

I shared my story, hoping that it encourages you to see yourself through your true identity in Christ, not who you once were.  No matter how our stories started, as born-again believers, we are children of God–once we are saved, we receive the Spirit of adoption and become a son of God. You are not an orphan. You are not fatherless. You are not motherless.  You are not abandoned. You are not rejected. Regardless of what you didn’t receive from your natural family, you are adopted into God’s family. You have a Father who has called you His child. You are a part of a spiritual family that truthfully supersedes anything natural.

Today’s topic is for those who are new to the faith as well as those who have been walking with God for many years. No matter how long we have been saved, we need to be reminded of who we are in Christ. There are many things or even people we face on a daily basis that may cause us to question who we are. But whatever and whoever we encounter, it is necessary that we are secure in our identity as a child of God. Also, I want to emphasize walking in the newness of life we have in Christ–embracing our restored identity. Each of us is a new creation. We have a new identity.  And we have a new nature. In being made new in Christ, we do not have to live bound to who we once were prior to salvation.

New Creation. New Identity. New Nature.

Before we can dive into our identity as a child of God, we must know that when we are born again, we become a new creation. We are regenerated, meaning we are spiritually reborn or converted. At the time of conversion, God begins to work on our inner man. We can see our desires start to change; some are immediate, and others are gradual.  This is the beginning of our journey with God. It is important to remember that we are not who we used to be. Our slate is wiped cleaned. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us of all unrighteousness. We have received Christ’s righteousness, and we are in right standing with the Father. We are walking out our salvation and submitting ourselves to the process of sanctification. We no longer have to see ourselves through the lens of our past. In the second portion of 2nd Corinthians 5:17, it states, “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Once we recognize that we’re a new creation, we can embrace our new identity. The Word tells us that we are children of God by our faith in Christ Jesus. We have received the spirit of adoption and sonship. Because of our faith in Christ, we are brought into God’s spiritual family. With our sonship comes benefits. We are counted as Abraham’s seed. Also, we become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Additionally, the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. It is spirit recognizing spirit. Those who belong to God are led by His Spirit. Believers are led by the Holy Spirit and sealed with the Holy Spirit. So once we are born again, this newness we have is–we are a new creation; and, we have a new identity as a son of God led by the Spirit of God.

Lastly, being led by the Holy Spirit helps us to put on our new nature. We are no longer bound to our old sinful behavior. We once were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to righteousness. This requires each of us to make a decision. Will we walk in the Spirit, resulting in our lives being pleasing and acceptable to God? Or, will we walk after the flesh driven by our carnal desires leading us away from Him? This is a daily decision we have to make. My hope is that we choose to be led by the Holy Spirit because the beauty of choosing Him is knowing He will never steer us in the wrong direction. It may be uncomfortable and challenging. It may result in us having to let go of certain things and further exercising self-denial. But in the end, it will ensure we are in alignment with the will of our Father.

No Longer Bound to the Past

With everything I discussed, it is my desire that each of us fully walks in the newness of life made available through Christ. No matter how horrible your past may have been, it is covered under the blood of Jesus. We do not have to see ourselves through the lens of our past. When others want to remind you of who you used to be and what you used to do, you don’t have to walk around in shame and condemnation. Instead, it can be used as an opportunity to share your testimony of how God has restored you and made all things new in your life. Your testimony can help others who are in the same or similar condition that you once found yourself in. It reveals that if God saved you and brought you out, He is more than able to do the same for them.

Lastly, for those who are struggling in their identity, I would encourage you to seek God with your whole heart. We can go to our Father and be honest about our difficulties. There is no reason to conceal it and pretend everything is okay. Yah can handle it; we just need to be willing to express it.

Reading and meditating on scripture helps to reaffirm our identity in Christ. Wherever there is any doubt or questions, replace it with the truth of the Word. As you build yourself up with the Word, it becomes easier to identify any lies the enemy or others have caused you to believe. Once the lies are addressed, we must come out of agreement with them. To fully walk in the newness of life, we need to see ourselves the way our Father sees us.

Recap: Newness in Christ

  • New Creation
    • Anyone in Christ is a new creation.
  • New Identity
    • Spirit of adoption 》Sonship
  • New Nature
    • Led by the Spirit of God, not our flesh
    • Servant of righteousness (Slave to righteousness-NKJV)
**Scriptures taken from the New King James Bible and the authorized King James Bible
**Definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary
All One in Christ — May 7, 2025
All things are made new in Christ — May 4, 2025
Fear no man, only God. — April 23, 2025
Fearless Faith —

Fearless Faith

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Overcoming the Fear of Man

Hello everyone! In the previous blog, we discussed living unashamed and what it looks like to be a bold believer. We went over 4 areas, which included: being unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share our testimony. As believers, we must overcome any shame we have in these areas. We should not be ashamed that others around us know we are saved and belong to the Most High God. We should let our light shine and be comfortable standing out in the midst of a dark and wicked world. We must embrace the set apart lifestyle that God has instructed us to live. And we must overcome shame to freely share our testimony as we are led by the Spirit of God.

Today’s topic is a continuation of last week. In order to live boldly for Christ, we must overcome not only shame but also the fear of man. This particular area can restrict us from living authentically as a child of the Most High. When we are consumed with the words and actions of people, it keeps us in a perpetual state of fear. In 2 Timothy 1:7, it states that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. This passage of scripture lets us know that fear is a spirit that does not come from God. And if it doesn’t come from God, it is sent by our adversary, the devil. We are not created to fear man, but we are to fear God. In today’s blog, we will compare these two types of fear and discuss how we can overcome the fear of man.

The Fear of Man vs. The Fear of God

Fear is defined as: (1) an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat; (2) a mixed feeling of dread and reverence; and (3) profound reverence and awe especially toward God. Out of the three definitions, the first can be used to describe the fear of man. When we believe another person or group of people are dangerous, we may feel threatened and retreat in fear. Instead of boldly living for Christ, we hide who we are and who we belong to. But that should not be the case. We can not allow the words and actions of others stop us from serving and living for God unashamedly.

Whether or not we are accepted by those around us, we should not hide our faith all for the sake of fitting in. We must be bold enough to confess Christ before others. If not, denying Him before men will cause Christ to deny us before the Father. That is a lot on the line. We can’t let shame or fear lead us in  denying our Savior. No matter what it costs, we must hold on to our profession of faith in Jesus. Despite the threats and possible backlash, don’t deny the Messiah. Regardless of the repercussions personally and professionally, hold on to your faith. Don’t relinquish it.

Even in instances where there is no actual or perceived threat, we battle the opinions of man. The people around us may not say or do anything that is a threat to our well-being, but we still fear their opinion of us. We are overly concerned about how they view us rather than how the Father sees us. That fear can be so strong that we try to fit in places and groups where we don’t truly belong. We may keep a low profile and stay to ourselves. So I ask you, “How does the fear of man and man’s opinion show up in your life?” Are you one of the few saved or the only saved person in your family? Do you shy away from sharing your faith and witnessing to those who are unsaved? In your workplace, do you attempt to blend in with your coworkers all for the sake of fitting in with the majority? Whoever you come in contact with, do you show up as your authentic self, as a child of the Most High God? Do you stand up for what is right regardless of what it could cost you; or, do you go along to get along? We have to be aware of how we carry ourselves in all areas of our lives.

We must understand that fearing man brings a snare, whereas trusting in God keeps us safe. No good comes from the fear of man. It is detrimental, and with it comes major consequences. In the Word, we are instructed to fear Him (God), who is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell, not man who can kill the body but not the soul. (Matthew 10:28) Even though man can take our lives, we are to only fear the One who can cast our souls into hell. I know it’s heavy to think about, but that’s the Word. In the face of adversity and persecution, we are not to fear man and what they can do to us. No matter what it costs, we must hold on to our faith in Christ and never deny Him. The result of denying Him is too severe to give in due to fearing men and their persecution.

Contrary to the fear of man, the fear of God is beneficial. It is a win-win. As previously mentioned, the second and third definitions fit the fear of God. It is a mixture of dread and reverential awe of the Most High. We know that Yahweh is holy and also a jealous God. As His children, we are set apart, living holy before our Father. While pursuing a lifestyle of holiness, we must remove ourselves from idolatry. The Most High requires us to serve and worship Him alone. He will not share His glory with another. We can not serve Yah and other gods. We can not have idols in our lives, which will lead us away from God.

There is no room for mixture; it is very cut and dry. Yah will not tolerate His children making, serving, or worshiping idols. In doing so, it will lead to His wrath. And, we don’t want to be on the receiving end of it. We must remove ourselves from all forms of idolatry, whether great or small. We have to be committed to loving and serving Yah with all our heart and soul. Also, we commit ourselves to keeping His instructions.

The fear of Yah is the beginning of wisdom. As we walk in the fear of Yah and follow His commandments, things will go well.  Those who fear God have confidence and find safety in Him. In the fear of Yah is a fountain of life, departing from the snares of death. These are the benefits of walking in the fear of God: wisdom, confidence, safety, and prolonged life. These are only some, not all, the benefits.  Fearing and trusting in God leads to a blessed and prosperous life. It doesn’t mean a perfect life. But it guarantees that our Father will sustain us, ensuring we are well taken care of. After identifying the differences between the fear of man and the fear of God, we can discuss how to overcome the fear of man.

How to Overcome the Fear of Man

The first step to overcoming the fear of man is to acknowledge it. We have to admit the areas we have been driven by the fear of man. We can’t fix what we won’t admit. Certain tendencies we have help to identify the fear harbored inside of us. In addition, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal anything hidden or what we might have brushed off as insignificant. The process can be uncomfortable, and that is to be expected. Pinpointing our own fears and insecurities is not always easy to confront; but it is necessary. We must be willing to submit to the process and not fight it. Don’t resist, but submit.

Once we’re aware of how the fear of man shows up in our lives, we have to follow the Word and depend on the Holy Spirit to help us overcome it. We don’t have to confront it in our own strength. When we know what the Word says, we can easily combat fear.  We should be intentional in building ourselves up in the Word of God. As our spirit is strengthened, being renewed with the Word, we have a greater ability to overcome anything that does not align with the truth. When fear rises up, we can boldly declare the truth that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

If we seek Yah when fear attempts to overtake us, cry out to Him, and we can rest in the fact that He will deliver us. In addition to seeking the Father, we are responsible for casting down the fearful thoughts that come to our minds. Otherwise, those repetitive thoughts can be planted into our hearts, eventually becoming a belief system, contrary to the Word. I like to say, “Replace the lie of the enemy with the truth of God’s Word.“

While we stand on the Word, which strengthens us, we have to make the decision to be bold. Don’t overthink or overspiritualize it. It is up to each of us to make the conscious decision to be bold and stand up for our faith. When a situation arises, we have to put into practice what we learned. As an opportunity comes around to share our faith with an unbeliever, we have to make a decision. Will we share the gospel of Jesus Christ or put it off for another time? What if that person doesn’t have a next time to hear the gospel? When we encounter unsaved coworkers, we have to decide how we will represent ourselves.  We don’t solely represent ourselves, but we are Christ’s representatives in the earth.

We have to understand that we will stand out as believers because we are the light of the world. We must choose to be bold and live unashamed, not fearing how we are perceived by others. We may face being misunderstood or ostracized by family or friends. As we grow in faith and wisdom, oftentimes relationship dynamics change. That is expected. Even Christ was rejected by his own people. The very people He was sent to save didn’t receive Him. We may be gossiped about or treated differently in the workplace. It’s part of the journey with Christ. Those who live a godly lifestyle in Jesus will suffer persecution. When we’re persecuted for Christ’s sake, we are counted as blessed. This area of life can not be avoided. Instead, we should expect it and be prepared when it comes.  We have no reason to fear man and what they can do to us or take from us. No matter the opposition, we are to seek God, stand on the Word, hold on to our faith, and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to persevere through it.

Recap: Put it into Practice

  • Fear God alone, not man.
  • Don’t allow the words and actions of others stop you from serving and living for God unashamedly.
  • Don’t allow the fear of man hinder you from sharing your testimony and the gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelievers. 
  • No matter what it costs you, don’t relinquish your faith in Christ. Don’t deny the Messiah.
  • Remove all forms of idolatry from your life; serve and love God with all your heart and soul.
  • Walk in the fear of Yah and His commandments, which leads to wisdom, confidence, safety, and prolonged life.
  • Expect and prepare for persecution when you live a godly lifestyle in Christ.
  • Stand on the truth in the Word.
  • Make the decision to boldly and unashamedly live as a child of the Most High regardless of how you are perceived by others.

**Definitions from the Oxford and Merriam-Webster Dictionaries
**Scriptures from the authorized King James Bible
Living Unashamed — April 16, 2025

Living Unashamed

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Being a Bold Believer

Hello, everyone! I pray you have been blessed by the last two blogs. Today, I want to talk about what it looks like to live unashamed and be bold in our faith in Christ. We are living in a time where people are declaring their faith in everything but God. And others are declaring their faith in Him while holding on to practices that are contradictory to the Word. This week’s blog will challenge us to examine 4 areas in our lives to discover if we are truly living unashamed.  As believers, we must be unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share our testimony.

Unashamed to be Saved

As we navigate our lives as believers, we should not be ashamed to declare and make it evident that we are saved. It is not about telling everyone you come across that you are a born-again believer. But simply, it can be conveyed in our character, conduct, and conversations. The people we encounter can see a difference in the way we carry ourselves. There is a distinction that believers have.  I have grown to understand it is not about rattling off scripture to everyone we meet. Instead, it is how we present ourselves to the world around us. Yes, there is a time and place that we need to be prepared to share scriptures and, most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

But in doing so, we need to be led by the Spirit of God to effectively navigate these opportunities. It is not a place of condemnation or bashing people with scripture. Instead, it is leading with love, grace, and the hope of planting or watering a seed sown. We are called to be disciples and follow after Christ. In doing so, we must remember that we represent Him in the world. When the world sees us, they should see Christ in us.

So I pose these questions: Can others recognize that you are saved? Is there a distinction in your life now that you are saved, or have you remained the same in your character, conduct, and conversations?
This is something to think about. When we give the Holy Spirit access, He will reveal any areas within us or in our lives that are contrary to the Word. With His guidance, we are able to live unashamed, to let it be known we are saved. We boldly express our identity as a born-again believer in Christ.

Unashamed to Stand Out

✨️Don’t dim your light to blend in with the darkness around you. Instead, let it shine.✨️

In addition to being unashamed to be saved, we are to be unashamed to stand out. Believers are the light of the world. That means we will stand out in a world full of darkness and wickedness. We are not instructed to hide our light but rather let it shine. And when our light shines, it shows our good works before others. When those good works are evident, it is not for self-gratification or self-exaltation but to glorify our Father. Our character, conduct, and conversations should be glorifying to the Father, not ourselves. We are His children and should be intentional in representing Him well.  We should not be fearful to stand out and be the light of the world. We once were living in darkness, but God called us out and brought us into His marvelous light. No matter how we are received by others, we should remember we are children of light.

With that understanding, we should not seek to dim our light to blend in with the darkness around us. Instead, let it shine. So I ask you this: Are you letting your light shine, or are you dimming it just so you can fit in? If your environment or the people around you cause your light to be dimmed, I would challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit for boldness to authentically be who you are called to be in Christ Jesus. Not with pridefulness, boasting, or arrogance but with unshakeable Holy Ghost boldness. In Him, you can completely embrace being the light of the world and do so unashamedly.

Unashamed to be Set Apart

✨️As children of God, we are instructed to be holy, as God is holy.✨️

Just like the Holy Spirit gives us boldness to embrace standing out as the light of the world, He also leads us in living a set apart lifestyle. To be set apart means to separate something and keep it for a special purpose. As God’s children, we are instructed to be holy as He is holy.  Holy is defined as dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred. Additionally, it is defined as properly, whole, entire, or perfect, in a moral sense;  hence pure in heart, temper, or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. We can not serve a holy God but live an unholy lifestyle. We are called to a lifestyle of holiness. It is not something we practice one day and don’t do the next. It is continual. It is not synonomous only with a church denomination or just for a certain group of believers. As a child of God, holiness is a requirement, not a suggestion.

With the definitions provided for set apart and holy, I want to reiterate that there is a distinction among believers.  The manner in which we live is different from those in the world. So I ask you, are you committed to living set apart? Have you removed yourself from anything that can be misconstrued as appearing evil or unholy? This is something we must examine. That is why our character, conduct, and conversations should be glorifying to God.  With all that was previously mentioned, we are being bold believers when we are unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and lastly, to share our testimony.

Unashamed to Share our Testimony

In this last area, we can struggle with sharing our testimony if we are battling the shame of our lifestyle before salvation. We may easily share our faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelievers. We may have no problem standing out as the light of the world. We could even fully embrace a lifestyle of holiness. But others of us have a difficult time overcoming our past mistakes and sins. The devil is the accuser of the brethren, who sows condemnation to keep us in a state of fear and shame. While in that state, we remain silent and bound instead of bold and free. Our mouth is muzzled, and the weight of the past weighs us down.

But we don’t have to live in condemnation and be weighed down. We can overcome it when we believe that our Savior’s shed blood redeems us. The mistakes and sins we have confessed and repented of are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our slate is wiped clean, and we are restored. Regardless of the devil’s attacks that will come, we can resist Him. We do not have to accept the condemnation, fear, or shame that he attempts to sow into our lives. And, once we overcome the condemnation, we can unashamedly share our testimony with others as led by the Holy Spirit. The key is to be led by the Spirit of God as He will guide us in what we should or should not share. He will give us the discernment to know the appropriate time and place to share and with whom. So follow His lead, and He will not steer you wrong.

Closing Thoughts

With everything I discussed, it is my hope that each of us can fully live unashamed and be bold believers for Jesus Christ. Regardless of the world and the culture surrounding us, I pray we will remain on fire for Christ, representing Him well from our character to our conversations with others. I hope you can take this information and fully embrace being unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share your testimony.

And until next time, have a great day and a blessed week.

**Definitions taken from the Oxford Dictionary and the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary**
**Scriptures taken from the authorized King James Bible**
Self Denial ➕️ Taking up Your Cross ➡️ Following Christ —