Identity & Calling Archives - Page 3 of 9

Is It Ok To Kiss Someone You Are Engaged With?

by Team Soar Girls | Apr 23, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Is it ok to kiss someone you are engaged with? So recently somebody asked us this question. And here is what we have to say:

What’s the purpose? Is it to prove your love to him? Then that is clearly not love. If it’s for the purpose of showing your love to your fiancée, there are better ways. How about surprising him by participating in a hobby activity that he likes?

You see whenever boundaries are crossed, it often begins with a kiss. One kiss may lead to another and that may lead to something that may bring feelings of regret.

In fact, post your engagement it is good if you discuss with your future spouse how you are going to respect sexual boundaries until you say your vows to each other.

When you live a life of dignity in the way you represent yourself and when you seek to honour God and His word, we challenge you to see whether your man will even ask you for this. Never make pleasing man a focus, rather please God and He is able to turn around the hearts of man according to His desire (Pro 21:1).

Well, we hope that this blog post answered your question – Is it ok to kiss someone you are engaged with?

This is an excerpt from the book “Girls Here’s What You Never Knew…God’s way to fireproof you from relationship pitfalls.” To get the book head to pursuehim.net/girlsbook/

XOXO,
Team Soar Girls

Accountability – This Can Protect You From Trouble!

by Team Soar Girls | Apr 18, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Hmm, so today, we are talking about accountability!

Wondering what accountability is and why you need it?

Well, accountability simply means to hold yourself responsible to someone, especially in the areas where you struggle. Accountability is important because it removes the element of isolation from our Christian walk. Of course, our primary accountability is to God, but being accountable to someone can help us stand strong in areas where we can fall (Heb 10:24-25, Ecc 4:9-12).

In our generation accountability and submission is looked down upon or rarely understood.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) says, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping a watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
The Bible clearly says it will be of advantage to you (not your authority).

How accountability helps?

We have seen so many young girls who have great zeal and passion for the kingdom of God and yet they are not accountable to someone, which is dangerous. Many of them lose track and fall especially in the area of relationships, taking them completely off course from their calling. And, they end up hurting themselves and blaming God. You see, you can have a revelation of a specific area but lack in other areas and that’s why you have God-ordained leaders who can guide you. When you prayerfully expose these vulnerable areas, it begins your healing process.

Some of us feel dependence is a sign of weakness, for others, you find it difficult to put your trust in someone because others have broken it in the past. However, in consistent accountability is your protection. Self-sufficiency says I don’t need anyone, but humility shouts for help from those God has placed in our lives.

Your accountability partners can, through years of wisdom and walking with the Lord, see warning signs that you may tend to miss. It is wise to learn and seek their advice rather than waste your time learning from hard knocks, pain and years of struggle. (There are many who like to be ‘accountable’ to an online pastor or mentor. But remember an ‘offline’ pastor can see a side of you that no online pastor can. Oh ya, many times even you can’t!)

So, ask God to show you someone who you can trust, who can correct you and who will encourage you to run after the heart of God, and submit to the authority of this person. (Mind you, submission doesn’t mean control or manipulation). Remember when they give you advice or tell you the truth, it’s never to hurt you but to protect you. This trust gets built over a period of time, but it’s worth investing in.

Beware:

Always submit to the same sex leaders and never the opposite sex. We have seen many girls fall in this area. Women love to listen to men but when another woman tells the same, they won’t consider it of much value. However, you need to look at the man of God and his wife in the same place as they are one and they minister with the same Holy Spirit.

Build an accountability circle

You can even be a part of the accountability circle of God-fearing friends. Have a godly standard for your friendships based on unconditional love and mutual trust. Of course, no friendship is perfect but stay close to those who are on fire for Jesus and make you love Jesus more.

XOXO,
Team Soar Girls

2 More Ways to Jumpstart your Walk with God

by Team Soar Girls | Apr 11, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Many Christians don’t even realise they are running on low steam (joy, lukewarmness) until they hit a dead end in their lives. In my previous post, I shared on 2 ways to jumpstart your walk with God.

Do you recollect? One was to Hang Out With People Who Are on Fire for God, Two was to Hear the Word of God

Today I will share with you two more ways to jumpstart your walk with God.

3.Pray in tongues

To build yourself in the faith, pray in tongues. The Word of God says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21

The most important thing a man or woman of God can do in prayer is to pray in other tongues. In fact you can pray throughout the day even while you are doing your routine chores. Because only the Holy Spirit knows what you are going through and prays on your behalf and builds you up! This is a secret conversation between you and your Father, and God in His mercy deposits His power in you.

Paul the apostle said “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” 1 Cor 14:18 If he being an apostle needed to pray in tongues so much, then how much more do we!

4.Be Still

One night I was so tired from the day’s work and activities , as I was laying down on my bed, I heard God speak to me and smile over me. That day was the most hectic day and honestly I didn’t even come to the Lord or ask of Him or inquire or talk to Him. I was so busy being distracted with many things that I never got to hear God.

But when I laid down with no energy and just being still I heard God loudly. And as soon as I heard and saw Him smile over Him, the peace of God came over me. All I needed from the beginning was His Word and His peace to take me through the day yet I didn’t look to Him.

Remember even if you are not faithful God is ever so faithful to you because He loves you! All He wants is for you to be still in His presence.

Prophet Samuel served God in the temple of God as a child, yet he didn’t know God. But one day as he was lying down in the presence of God, God called him (1 Samuel 3:3)

It’s so hard for us to just be still in His presence and hear the Lord while it is so easy to get distracted. But that’s what God commands us to do in Psalm 46:10-11. The Word of God says “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah!

Remember in walking with God, lukewarmness is not an option. So go ahead and Soar!

XOXO,
Alisha

2 Ways to Jumpstart your Walk with God

by Team Soar Girls | Apr 2, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Recently we were driving back home when our car battery dropped dead leaving us stranded in the middle of a highway. This happened suddenly and we weren’t prepared for it. But praise God, we got help… And we were successfully able to jump-start our car with the help of another car’s battery. Well, that’s how many Christians are in their Walk with God right now and need a desperate jump start just like our car did.

You see, many don’t even realize they are running on low steam until they hit a dead-end in their lives. If you see no joy in your Christian walk and lukewarmness has set in, here are 2 ways to jump-start your walk with God.

1 Way to Jumpstart Your Walk With God: Hang Out With People Who Are on Fire for God

When you stay away from fellowship and you go on with your life, lukewarm life starts to slip in.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to hang out with people who are on fire for God and who are running with a vision.

Take for example Saul. He was not a prophet but as soon as he came in contact with other prophets he started to prophesy. In 1 Samuel 10:10-11 the Word of God says, When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Two takeaways I got from this scripture. First , Prophets hangout with other prophets. Be around a group that has same vision as you or loves Jesus so much. The second is the anointing of God carried by the people you meet or hangout with will rub off on you. If you have one friend who loves the Lord and the rest who don’t , you will most likely be like those those who don’t love the Lord. Heard a quote that says “You are an average of 5 people you spend your life with.”

2 Way to Jumpstart Your Walk With God: Hear the Word of God

There is so much power in the Word of God you hear. There are times when you don’t feel anything with the Word preached. But over time the more you hear you will understand that it is the Word of God has the power to change our hearts and transform our lives.

The Bible says, For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

It is only the Word of God can reach our soul and our spirit and has the power to change our hearts!

But the Word of God comes to none effect when we get distracted. The devil is interested in stealing the Word of God that you hear. I loved what my soar sister shared earlier last month on the topic The parable of the Sower – Are you the good ground?
Do give it a read.

XOXO,
Alisha

Father, Why Do You Keep Looking at Me?

by Team Soar Girls | Mar 27, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Recently my niece visited me and had many stories to share about her school and day-to-day routine. She told me that her father keeps looking at her always. He keeps observing her while she is playing, studying, etc and her and her little mind kept thinking, “Father, why do you keep looking at me?”.

I had to then explain to her that it’s for her good, and the reason he does that is because he loves her and wants to protect her always.

This conversation with my niece, made me think.

Ahh!

If an earthly father watches and guards over his daughter so much, how much more would my Heavenly Father keep His eyes on me.

In fact, He is called El Roi – the God who sees me.

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”
(Genesis 16:13)

He surely enjoys seeing me wake up in the morning, go about doing my daily chores, pick up my Bible and spend time with Him, etc. This conversation with my niece opened up the Father’s heart to me. A true and caring father will always keep an eye on his daughter to see if she needs his help in anything.

A Father’s gaze is a daughter’s protection

This reminded me of Mordecai who took care of Esther when she lost her biological parents. The Bible says in Esther 2:11, “And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her”. (KJV).

Mordecai here shows us the heart of God. The father in Mordecai wanted to know how is Esther (his daughter) doing in the king’s palace. He was very much a part of Esther’s journey from a common next-door girl to being the Queen of Susa.

Does anyone care?

Even as you are reading this, maybe you are studying far away from your home. Or maybe your job has brought you to a foreign land. Perhaps you are all alone somewhere with thoughts running in your mind like: “Is anyone watching over me”? “Does anyone care?”

The answer is yes!

Your Heavenly Father watches over you every moment. Psalm 121:7-8 says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore”

What comfort we have in knowing that He watches over us! His eyes are always on me. With Him on my side, I can never be alone.

XOXO
Shiney Varghese

5 Tips to Break-Free From Screen Addiction

by Team Soar Girls | Mar 19, 2022 | Christian Walk, Identity & Calling

Struggling with screen addiction? Netflix, games, social media seem to have taken a toll on your productive time? Wondering how to break-free from the cycle of mindless scrolling?

Smartphones and screen time are changing the way we think, but even more concerning, they are hijacking our heart. Remember, the phone was made for you and not vice versa. Here are 5 simple tips to break free from screen addiction:

1.Track your Screen Time

A good way to fight your screen time consumption is to start by tracking the total time you spend with your gadgets every day. Once you get your consumption breakup (Apple or android – all have this feature), be intentional in reducing the time spent on apps that steal most of your time. It’s a good habit to uninstall these apps for extended periods, especially if they are networking or binge watching apps. You can even hide these apps from your home screen so it remains out-of-sight and out-of-mind. Another trick is to mute your screen’s colors which will make pics, video, apps, less tempting to click.

If for some reason you cannot uninstall this app, then try and moderate or lower its consumption or keep a fixed time to check it. Oh yes, you don’t have to check your emails first thing in the morning unless you hold the portfolio of the president of your country .

2. Get an Accountability Partner

The Bible says, Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. (Ecc 4: 9,10).

It’s good to team up with an accountability partner who could be your spiritual mentor, leader or a mature friend of the same sex. This friend should be someone who can push you to accomplish your set task and not pacify your effort to overcome screen addiction. You can share your screen time status, your struggles, and victory stories with each other and encourage one another from the Word of God.

If you don’t have anyone, you could also connect to a Jesus loving community like SOAR GIRLS that can help build you, even as you humble yourself and open up about your struggles.

3. Allocate “God and You” time

Be disciplined about allocating a fixed time for spending with the Word of God and in prayer, especially first thing in the morning. This is one habit that will help you break free from all your addictions.

When Jesus walked on the earth, he would often withdraw to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).

Build a Secret place this season. A secret place is “Your time alone” with God. The devil is happy as long as you are “alone with your gadgets” so he can fill your mind with the filth of the world and bring thoughts to you that tell you that you are not good enough, capable enough and loved enough. But he is mortally scared when you are “alone with God”. Because that’s when you start becoming like Jesus and reflecting Him through your life.

Also lay hold of a physical Bible instead of depending on digital Bibles which are so distractive, and start dwelling on its passages. Remember the Bible is not just a book, but it is God’s Word and is meant to be read slowly, deeply, thoughtfully, repeatedly.

4. Give Digital Detox a Try

Digital Detox refers to a period of time where you refrain from using digital devices such as smart phones, tabs, computer screens and social media sites. Its time you give those fidgety fingers some rest! It can help you to take your gaze away from temporary pleasures and help you realign your life around what really matters.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18)

You can even create gadget free zones by limiting their usage in certain areas in your house. Avoid taking your gadgets with you on dining table, bathrooms or on your bed. Intentionally keep these areas gadget-free and full of good and godly conversations.

The word you need to constantly remind yourself is “RESIST”. Every time you get tempted to break your momentum, pick up the Word of God. Lay hold of your physical Bible and start reading it aloud. Make it personal by underlining and circling scriptures that are touching your heart.

5. Pick an Outdoor Hobby or Activity

Find out a hobby or activity that you can indulge in without using screens. How about trying your hands at gardening, painting, calligraphy, sketching, poetry, cooking etc? The list is endless.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what skill or activity you can pick up. It’s amazing how God can open up your understanding through these experiences and make you more sensitive to His voice.

Did this post help you? Which of the above tips you are keen to try out in your effort to reduce your screen time and break free from screen addiction? Anything else you can add that worked for you?

XOXO
Author Kim & Shiney

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Is It Ok To Kiss Someone You Are Engaged With?