R U a Good Christian?

R U a Good Christian?

Earning Points with God? Ep 55 How to Receive God's unconditional love and acceptance You missed four days of devotions. You are not a good Christian. God must not be happy with you. I stood looking out the rain-streaked window and felt like a terrible loser. I should have combatted the lies of the enemy with the truth of God’s word. I thought I would disappoint God if I didn’t read the Bible every day. I listened to the lies of the enemy that said I was not acceptable to God unless I earned “points” every day by reading the Bible and praying. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. I now know that I can’t earn God’s favor or his love and acceptance. He already loves me because he made me and paid an enormous price for me to be bought back from the devil. That price was his Son’s life. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God loves us not because we are lovable but because he is love, not because he needs to receive but because he delights to give.” For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 1:9 NLT We didn’t deserve to be saved from hell. It is all because of God’s love and grace. An acronym that can define grace is: G: God’s R: riches A: at C: Christ’s E: expense. Dear Lord, please help me receive your love and grace in my heart, and to rest in your favor. Thank you, that I don’t have to measure up to any standard before you will love, accept, and forgive me. Today: Write down a lie you believe on one side of a card and a Bible verse to combat it on the other side. Say the verse aloud each time Satan or his evil ones tempt you to speak or believe the lie. This is my devotion originally published April 25, 2026 here: https://thelife.com/devotionals/earning-points-with-god Subscribe at https://sheyvahrex.substack.com/ [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com/] email me at sheyvahrex@proton.me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Have You Blown it?

Aaaahhhh! Ugh, I did it again! How can I be so stupid? I’m such a terrible mom! I’m an awful Christian. The silence that fell after my outburst was thick with accusation. I breathed hard as I looked at my children across the room. I had prayed for patience for years, but once again, had lost my temper with my four precious sons. The condemning thoughts and negative feelings came fast and furious. I confessed my sin of angry yelling to the boys and Father God. Fortunately, they forgave me. God forgave me because of what Jesus had done for me. Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice, so I didn’t have to be punished for my dreadful wickedness. This was years ago. Although God set me free from yelling, I still must deal with anger. The next time I feel irritation rising, I will call out for God’s help to say “No” to unrighteous anger. He will aid me. His Holy Spirit longs to lend me his power. You too can gain victory over seemingly uncontrollable sins. The devil tries to convince us we’ll never change, but it’s a lie. We are helpless by ourselves, but God has the power to make us holy like Jesus. God is so wonderful to offer his gift of salvation to all people. His grace teaches us to say no to the tempting sin we indulged in before. His grace teaches us to live pure lives right now. We are waiting for Jesus to appear. He gave his life to buy us back from the kingdom of darkness and to make us clean. He makes us eager to do what is holy. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.- Titus 2:11-14 New International Version of the Bible Take God up on his promise to give us grace and mercy in our time of need. The results may surprise you. Dear Father God, thank you for your gift of salvation and complete forgiveness. Help me lean on your power and not my own to receive your grace. Today: Look up some verses about your freedom from sin at this link: https://www.openbible.info/topics/being_set_free_from_sin and write them on a card. Read them aloud to encourage yourself that victory is possible through Christ. Thanks for reading Perfect King's Imperfect Princess! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and be among the first to hear about my work. Grace and Mercy: Originally published on thelife.com April 7, 2026 https://thelife.com/devotionals/have-you-blown-it This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Last words with Dad

“Goodbye Daddy! You can go to be with Jesus now. I love you. See you in heaven.” I was shouting through my tears on the phone. April 30, 2021, was the last time I spoke to my dad on Earth. He had had a massive heart attack. I tried to see him at the hospital, but they wouldn’t let me because of COVID. A few hours later, he slipped into eternity. I found it hard to process my grief while having to go to work and act normal. I wasn’t young, but I felt the sting of losing my daddy. We hadn’t ever been very close emotionally, and I grieved the loss. Over the years since then, I have learned to know and experience God as my Daddy in heaven and to trust him more. We all go through painful periods in our lives. We have a choice; will we become bitter or better? With God’s help, we can become much better. He wants to make us more like Jesus. God is preparing us for important tasks in His kingdom. Let us praise Jesus with joy that he has counted us worthy to suffer. These trials are a brief blip in view of eternity. Everyone, not only Christians, experiences painful trials in this temporary life. But unlike our unbelieving friends, we have God’s Holy Spirit’s power to draw on. Bill Bright, the founder of Cru/Power to Change, writes, “If you are experiencing difficulties in your life-physical illness, loss of loved ones, financial adversity- remember … James 1:2-4 [today’s passage]... Be happy, knowing that God will work in your life to accomplish His holy purpose.” (Promises, Day 12, New Life Publications. 1993) My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.- James 1:2-4 (ERV) Dear Jesus, I don’t like my trials, but I know from your Word that you are using them in my life. Help me to rejoice in you despite how I feel today. Throughout this day: Check out this online devotion from Bill Bright. You can subscribe to receive it daily by email. https://www.cru.org/content/cru/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/devotionals/todays-promise/01/08.htmlOr consider buying the book: Promises: A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living by Bill Bright can be found on various sites online. Originally published March 23, 2026. https://thelife.com/devotionals/trials-bring-joy Don't forget to subscribe at sheyvahrex.substack.com [http://sheyvahrex.substack.com] to get all my writing and news. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Praising for Joy Ep 52

My devotion originally published on March 10th, 2026 / Sheyvah Rex [https://thelife.com/author/sheyvah-rex] “You’re not a good Christian because you committed that terrible sin yesterday,” the voice in my head was accusing. “You confessed it to Me. I have already forgiven you. Walk in my love.” I had a choice. Would I believe the voice of the enemy bringing me disgrace or the truth of God’s word bringing me forgiveness and joy? Would I hang my head in shame for my actions or rejoice that God forgave me because of Jesus’s blood spilled for my sin? Although the enemy was attacking my thoughts and emotions, I knew a sure way to combat him. I chose to praise the Lord with my voice. The devil never appreciates hearing about the wonders of God’s love, and so he fled. Like David in today’s Psalm, we can hold our heads high even in the presence of our enemies because God hides us. Over the years, I have struggled occasionally with feeling down or “blah”. I have learned that when I praise the Lord even when I don’t feel like it, the darkness leaves and my feelings become joyful. Jesus is always worthy of our praise. Worship and praise are powerful weapons against the enemy, bringing joy in hard trials. Dear Father, please help me to choose to praise you even when I don’t feel like it. Thank you, that you are more powerful than the enemy, and he will run away when I exalt you. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.- Psalm 27:5-6 (NLT) Throughout this day: replace negative thoughts and emotions with praise. Sing along to this song: Victory Chant (Hail Jesus, You’re my King) https://youtu.be/rHTJZYOuHIc?si=EFCagBkLo_ytYdCN [https://youtu.be/rHTJZYOuHIc?si=EFCagBkLo_ytYdCN] https://thelife.com/devotionals/praising-for-joy [https://thelife.com/devotionals/praising-for-joy] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

True Love Serves Ep.51

My lovely parents several months before Daddy died in 2021 “Ow!” Dad squealed. My mother attempted to clean up her husband in the small restroom. My father had had dementia for five years and lost control of his bodily functions in the last two years of his life. Stress comes in different forms. Caregiving is not for the faint of heart. Mom displayed her love for Dad not only in words but consistently cared for him even in the messy times. She showed humility and grace, which came from the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said to love each other as he had loved us, he hadn’t yet gone to the cross and laid down his life for us. He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet. This was a job usually done by slaves. None of the disciples had chosen to wash the others’ feet. They were too busy arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022-24&version=NIV]). Jesus showed us all that he is the greatest servant leader. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.- John 13:34-35 (NLT) The word for love in today’s verse is agape in Greek. This word means unconditional love, not based on feelings. What about us? Do we say we love people? Of course. But then when there is an opportunity to serve that person, do we do it? Willingly? Or do we perform the service grudgingly? Jesus said that showing true love would prove to the unbelievers that we are really following him. Dear Lord, please help me to show true love practically to those around me. Throughout this day: consider your relationships. Are you loving family, friends or co-workers unconditionally or only when and how it suits you? Thanks for watching Perfect King's Imperfect Princess! I'm your host Sheyvah Rex. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and encourage me in my work. Thanks for listening to Perfect King's Imperfect Princess! Please feel free to share this episode. https://thelife.com/devotionals/true-love-serves Originally published February 23, 2026 Subscribe to all my writing and updates at sheyvahrex.com Email me at sheyvahrex@proton.me Please leave a comment or send me a message with prayer requests. God is powerful and He loves you very much whether you believe it or not. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sheyvahrex.substack.com [https://sheyvahrex.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]