Are you hurting right now? Know that the Word of God can speak to you in every situation of your life. Here are some reminders for you.
- Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Remember this, you are not hurting because God has left you, or is far away. God is near. Invite him in your life, especially when you are hurting.
- John 11:35 Jesus wept.
When Jesus saw the grief that people had when Lazarus had died, his love and compassion for us made him cry. This is our God, who feels with us, who weeps with us when we are hurting and who smiles with us when we rejoice.
- Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
God doesn’t want you to hurt or mourn. There is comfort.
- Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Give your pain and hurt to Jesus. He doesn’t want you to carry it, but will give you peace instead.
- John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Jesus doesn’t promise us that everything in this world will be fine, quite the opposite, there will be hardship. That’s when you need to turn to Jesus, because he has overcome the world
- Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Here is something challenging when we are hurting. To have peace, find it in your heart to forgive the person who hurt you. Forgiveness is not earned or deserved, but given anyway, just like God forgives us.
- Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Ultimately, we live with the hope that one day there will be no more pain, no more crying. One day we will be with Jesus in the new Jerusalem. There is an end to pain, hurting, suffering. But there is no end to God’s love and grace.
The Bible encourages you to walk in God’s way and follow his commandments. It teaches that youth is a time for growing in faith and preparing for the future, rather than for a life of inconsistent frivolity.
Here are some recommendations from God for you who want to grow in faith and wisdom, and live a life full of blessings and success according to the teachings of the Bible.
1. Respect your parents and authorities in general: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Exodus 20:12).
2. Avoid bad influences and remain vigilant: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
3. Follow the way of wisdom and humility, being vigilant against evil: “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)
4. Devote yourself to God and follow his teachings: “Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;” (Proverbs 3:9)
5. To seek the truth and to be diligent in the study of the Holy Scriptures: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105)
6. Avoid the devil’s temptations and snares, by remaining vigilant and prayerful: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
7. Strive for purity of thought and deed: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
What is prayer?
Just as how we communicate in order to keep our relations intact, we should also be in constant touch with our Father in Heaven. One way of doing that is through prayer. Prayer is the communication between us and God. We can boldly go to Him in prayer and tell him how we feel, what we desire, seek guidance etc. Prayer is giving our attention to God in a two-way spiritual relationship where we talk to God and also listen to Him. Prayer is like a child’s conversation with their father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things they need, or to ask for advice or guidance.
Who should pray?
Prayer is an open invitation extended to everyone, regardless of their circumstances, background, or status. The Bible is explicit in its encouragement for all people to engage in prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV), the Apostle Paul encourages believers by saying, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This passage conveys that prayer is not limited to a select few but is a continuous and open invitation for all believers.
So to answer the question, “YOU” should pray.
Why should you pray?
When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.
There are many promises in God’s Word to encourage us to pray, such as: “He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him” (Psalm 91:15); “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24); “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). These Scriptures assure us that God hears and answers prayer.
When should you pray?
You should pray at all times.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 17 “Pray without ceasing”.
The Bible is clear that we should pray always–And we should. However, there are some circumstances in our lives that should trigger immediate prayer. Here are examples of circumstances that should trigger prayer.
1. When you are happy.
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 1:13
2. When you are tempted. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13).
“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
3. When you are worried. The Bible teaches us to cast their burdens on the Lord.
Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).
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When you have a great decision to make or problem to solve: The Bible teaches that,” If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James. 1:5).
5. When you are discouraged: In living the Christian life, you should not quit. You need to turn to God in prayer. Jesus said,“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Lk. 18:1).Paul said, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians. 6:18). When you are discouraged, ask God to send you some help in the form of other Christians.
- When you have sinned.: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John: 1:7-9).
Where should you pray?
This question has a lot of different answers, and thank goodness it does. God hears your prayers no matter where you’re praying. In the Bible, people prayed in houses, in closets, on mountaintops, in deserts, late at night, early in the morning, before meals, and after battles. So maybe it doesn’t really matter where your body is during prayer and at what time you pray. Instead, it’s about where your heart is when you pray. Any time you want or need to talk with God, that’s when you should pray. Any place you need to feel the influence of His love, that’s where you should pray. You don’t have to wait for the perfect time or place (or the perfect you). Just pray. God will hear you.