Shalom stories

Have you been frustrated, disheartened, or felt like there is a need in your life, yet nothing appears to change since the enemy continues to attack? You are not alone; we all endure difficult trials and seasons in life, but seeking God in prayer will guide, uplift, and inspire us to continue in faith. Let's learn and be inspired by Hannah's incident. Her faith, behavior, and influence will motivate us to acknowledge our own contribution in our daily lives. Hannah is a woman in the Bible who faced a lot of difficulty in her life yet remained consistent in her pursuit of the Lord. Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 exposes her emotional struggles and tribulations as a barren woman in ancient Israel. Her husband, Elkanah, had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah remained childless, which was extremely distressing for her. In that civilization, a woman's worth was frequently linked to her capacity for bearing children, making barrenness not just ...

God had love and a purpose when He created us. It is important for us to remember that each of us has a unique purpose and is special in God's eyes. As His masterpiece, we are made to accomplish the good deeds He has planned for us (See Ephesians 2:10). The majority of people pass away unaware of their purpose on earth, which is a grave mistake. We frequently believe that meeting our needs is the only purpose of our existence. While all of those things are worthwhile, our primary objectives also involve being humbly human and mindful of the needs of others.  We are called to put the needs of those around us above our own self-serving goals. By doing this, we fulfill our mission as His disciples and imitate the characteristics of Christ (see Philippians 2:3–4). God sent us on earth to carry out his mission after creating us. It's similar to being hired by a company based on your qualifications, and the manager needs you to complete daily tasks in order for you to be paid at th...

When we surrender ourselves to God, we are saying, "God, we trust you, and we know what we're getting ourselves into." Imagine getting into a bus and being driven by someone you don't trust. It will not be easy to reach your destination, and there is so much to gain from being around him. Allowing God to do all the work will keep you from experiencing sadness, restless nights, and tension. That is why, in Matthew 11:28, Jesus urges us to come to Him with all of our burdens, promising us rest. The reason is that he knows that we cannot accomplish or win alone. One thing we should understand is that the ongoing battle is not ours but rather belongs to Jesus. So, doing it on our own will have an impact not just on our spiritual lives but also on our health and mental well-being. God has sent angels to protect us; never doubt that God has your back. God simply wants us to pursue his kingdom, and all good will follow us. Every time you pray, say this: "God, I surr...

Have you ever felt as if there is no room for happiness and that everything is falling apart? Nevertheless I want you to know that this is just a passing phase, and you will one day realize that God was preparing you for something massive. No matter how much of your suffering went unnoticed by others, God has not missed a single moment. One day, you'll realize the beauty of His perfect timing, why your heart was broken, and why He saved such precious moments for later in your life. Unanswered prayers and restless nights will come to an end today as God brings you so much peace. And one day, you'll notice a tangible change in your existence, realizing that every tear, heartbreak, and prayer has led up to this moment in the timing of God. When you cry out to Him, praying that He will deliver you from your trials, He will work quietly, changing the tides in ways you cannot see. He'll assist you in ways you won't fully comprehend until you're healed, guiding you i...

• God has delivered me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom I have redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13–14). • I am the head and not the tail; I am above and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). • The Lord will cause my enemies who rise against me to be defeated before my face; they shall come out against me one way and flee before me seven ways (Deuteronomy 28:7). • God has delivered me from the snare of the fowlers and from perilous pestilence (Psalm 91:3). • I shall not be afraid of the terror by night or of the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 91–5). • No evil shall befall me; or shall any plague come near my dwelling (Psalm 91:10). • I shall flourish like a palm tree (Psalm 92:12). • With God, I shall gain victory, and he will trample down my enemies (Psalm 108:13). • God is going to make me flourish, both me and my children (Psalm 91:14). • I trust the Lord with all my heart (Psalm 3:5). • Whe...

The things of this world cannot fill the empty space within us; only Christ can complete us. This embodies for us that we need Jesus more than anything else on this planet. God did not put us here to rely on ourselves, but to rely on him for everything. We can't survive without him, which is why the Bible cautions us not to rely on our own understanding, because our understanding can fail us and our hearts can lead us astray. Physically, we may appear to be capable of doing things on our own, but on the inside, we are slowly dying. I don’t know about you, but if you haven't yet accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, it’s not too late. The Bible encourages us in Jeremiah 33:3 that if we call on God, he will answer us and tell us things we don't know. God is waiting for your call today. He is waiting for you to come to him and ask him to show you the way. Here is a short prayer to seek God: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all of my transgressions against ...

First and foremost, we have to understand the concept of "favour". God's favour can be defined as divine kindness or an act of real empathy on God's part toward poor and unworthy human beings. God's favour is reserved for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus. Those who are humble and despised by sin. God favours those who take pleasure in those who connect and honour Him. "These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word," says the Bible in Isaiah 66:2. God pursues individuals who love Him and His commands in order to bless, guide, and protect them. We humble our souls before Him when we seek His favour; we seek Him for Himself, not only for the gifts.  He gives us and organizes our lives so that we can love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (see Luke 10:27). The majority of people in the Bible found favour with God. Noah, for example, was favored by God himself...