Shalom stories

10 Clear Signs You’re Set Apart By God Have you ever felt different from others — like you don’t quite fit in, no matter how hard you try? Maybe you sense a deeper purpose, or your life seems unusually hard compared to those around you. You might be one of God’s chosen ones. The Bible talks about a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9). This means God has handpicked certain people for unique assignments, blessings, and also battles. In this article, we’ll explore who the chosen ones are, plus give you 10 powerful signs that you might be one of them. Who Are The Chosen Ones? Simply put, the chosen ones are people whom God has set apart for a divine purpose. They are marked by His favor, often go through intense tests, and carry a spiritual authority that the enemy tries to oppose. Being chosen doesn’t always mean life will be easy. In fact, it often means the opposite. God allows certain trials to refine, prepare, and humble His chosen p...

(Biblical Truths You Must Know) When we look around today, many people are chasing after things that look beautiful, shiny, and promising. Big houses, luxury cars, huge bank accounts, fame, or even relationships that seem perfect on the outside. None of these things are bad by themselves. But did you know that Satan often begins by showing you something very good to look at — something that will tempt your eyes and your desires? How Satan Operates: From the Garden to Today This strategy is not new. In fact, it started long ago in the Garden of Eden. Remember Eve? The serpent showed her the fruit and made it look pleasing to the eye. He told her that by eating it, she would become wise like God. That was a lie — but it was wrapped in something attractive. Eve fell into the trap, and by doing so, gave Satan a legal right to bring sin and death into humanity. Satan even tried this same method on Jesus Christ. He took Jesus to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, sayi...

Have you ever wondered why it seems like God stands by when His chosen ones are under attack? Why the righteous suffer, even when they walk faithfully with God? The answer might shock you: sometimes, God allows the enemy to touch His chosen vessels—not to destroy them, but to set a trap for the enemy’s own destruction. From the pages of Scripture to the life of every believer, we see a divine pattern unfold: God uses the schemes of the enemy to accomplish His greatest victories. What may appear like suffering or abandonment is often divine strategy. Biblical Examples That Reveal God’s Strategy 1. Pharaoh and Moses God allowed Pharaoh to harden his heart and oppress Israel—but for what purpose? “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” — Exodus 9:16 The oppression of Israel created the platform for God's miraculous deliverance and the complete downfall of Pharaoh’s regime. 2. Saul and David...

In life, wisdom is priceless. Ignorance, on the other hand, can lead to missed opportunities, broken relationships, and spiritual setbacks. When it comes to our relationship with God, especially through the Holy Spirit, ignorance or grieving the Spirit can have serious consequences. But what exactly can it cost you? Let’s explore this important topic in a clear, practical way. Understanding Ignorance and Grieving the Holy Spirit Ignorance means lacking knowledge or awareness. It’s not just about not knowing facts but often involves overlooking God’s guidance and spiritual truths. Grieving the Holy Spirit happens when our actions, attitudes, or decisions cause sorrow to the Spirit who lives within believers. The Bible tells us to avoid this because the Holy Spirit guides, comforts, and empowers us. What Can Being Ignorant Cost You? 1. Missed Guidance and Direction God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, offering wisdom and direction. Ignoring or not recognizing this guidance means you...

Many of us pray for answers, direction, and help from God. Yet, when the answers come, they often don’t arrive with thunder, lightning, or dramatic signs. Instead, they come in a still, small voice. A quiet nudge. A gentle unease. But because we expect something louder, more obvious, we dismiss these moments as coincidence. What we don’t realize is that this spiritual ignorance can cost us greatly—emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.  God Speaks in Stillness, Not in Pressure God’s voice is often still and peaceful. He doesn’t manipulate, shout, or push. He whispers. He guides gently. Unfortunately, many of us ignore that quiet voice and follow louder influences—friends, emotions, trends, or fear. Pressure is not the language of God. Confusion, rush, and fear often come from the enemy or our own anxious thoughts. When you feel forced into something, it's a red flag. God offers peace, even when His instructions lead us into the unknown. 2. Mistaking Divine Warnings for Coin...

Many Christians are living far below the level of power and victory that God has made available to them. The truth is: Satan isn’t stronger than you. You’re just not using your authority. God never intended for believers to be helpless victims in a spiritual war. Through Jesus Christ, every child of God has been given the right and power to rule in the spirit realm. But instead of walking in dominion, many are walking in defeat—not because they don’t have authority, but because they don’t exercise it. What Is Spiritual Authority? Spiritual authority is the delegated power God has given to believers through Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ of Nazareth rose from the dead, He declared: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Therefore, go..." – (see Matthew 28:18-19)  He didn’t keep that authority to Himself—He passed it on to you Church (read luke 10:19). You’ve been armed. You’ve been empowered. But you must use it. Why Many Christians Are Weak Many Christia...

Unforgiveness is a silent thief. It doesn’t announce itself loudly, but its effects are deeply rooted, destructive, and often invisible—until it’s too late. Many people go through life unaware that the bitterness they harbor is the very thing that is closing the door to their healing, peace, and divine breakthroughs. 1. Unforgiveness Is a Spiritual Poison When you refuse to forgive, you're not just holding onto a memory—you’re feeding a spirit of bitterness. Over time, that bitterness doesn’t just stay in your heart—it spreads. It begins to poison your thoughts, relationships, decisions, and even your prayers. Hebrews 12:15 warns us: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” That bitterness becomes a spiritual stronghold that the enemy uses to manipulate your life. Every time you replay the offense, you're building a wall between you and God's blessings. 2. It Blocks Your Prayers Jesus was clea...

Imagine the consequences if Jesus Christ had not embraced the mission on earth that he was given by the father (John 6:38). Imagine what could have happened to millions of souls. Consider what could have happened to the Israelites if Moses had never taken his calling seriously when God called him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 3:10).  God has invested something in you, and it takes you to pray and discover what he has invested in you. Some of you God gave you the anointing of healing, but you aren’t even aware. Millions of souls are lost out there, and this situation requires you and me to take our calling very seriously. So many people are dying in hospitals from cancer, diabetes, and other diseases, while you are ignoring doing the will of the father, and you expect things to go well with you. Certainly, not everyone is destined for the same path, as God has assigned us various missions and duties. The key here is to discover your true identity. When you don't take ...

We all need someone to lift our hands when we don't have enough strength to do it ourselves. Remember the story about the Israelites being attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim?  According to Exodus 17:8-15, Moses instructed Joshua to select some of his men to go out and deal with the opposers (the Amalekites). Joshua obeyed Moses' commands. The Israelites won as long as Moses raised his hands; when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites won.  It demonstrated the beneficial effect of teamwork. This should show us that even our leaders get tired of doing God's work, like praying for us, so we ought to pray for them as well. They need our support; let us show them some love by supporting them and holding their hands up. This should also show us that when we are united and working together as God's children, we rise and overcome. The enemy understands that if our leaders stop praying for us or obeying God, the congregation will be divided. Therefore, let us pray for our...

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...

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...

Jesus refers to himself as the living water due to the fact that he provides us with living water—God's Holy Spirit—that fully satisfies our innermost thirst for our Almighty Father while also moving us to produce good spiritual fruit. This divine life-giving power is far more delightful than any fleshly desire, which will never truly nourish our souls (Galatians 5:13–26). It is said that one can go for weeks without food but only a few days without water. Our bodies cannot survive for long periods of time without water, As much as our Sprits cannot survive without Jesus. Water is vital for all living things on Earth, but it also has destructive attributes. Water is frequently used in the Gospel of John to represent purity and cleansing, as well as spiritual desires. John applies water symbolism in the form of signs to reveal Jesus' identity as the Son of God. The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan women in John 4 and the power of God as he walks on water in Joh...

           it is very simple to let ourselves get caught up in the trap of moaning instead of appreciating all of our blessings. Let it be a reminder to be grateful and mindful of the blessings in life whenever we find ourselves griping about the changing of the seasons or the everyday weather. Let it serve as a reminder that God is active in all circumstances, but particularly during the stages of our lives! He remains dependable in all circumstances. Along with its showers, springtime brings fresh beauty. Summertime brings heat, humidity, and thunderstorms. It also brings warmth and sunshine. Fall is a season of colour and coolness, a "falling away." Winter may enclose us, but it also brings tranquillity and rest.  * Indications that God is getting you ready for a new season: This question is crucial, especially if you are obedient to God's word and follow his statutes and commandments. However, in order to determine whether God is prepar...

  Life resembles a route. Additionally, there will be stop signs and speed limit or increase signs along the route! I chose to use this analogy because there are times in life when all you have to do is wait on the Almighty. And just get more prayer done when you feel like a situation has triumphed over you. Simply put on the gear and switch it out. There are moments when we may feel as though the Lord is not seeing us, hearing us, or responding to our prayers. We can place all of our faith and belief in the living God at these times. Knowing that the Lord is with us and in charge of our lives allows us to wait on Him with great anticipation. He is going to fulfill his promise. He is going to save us. Even when we are not aware of Him, He is constantly at work for our good (Romans 8:28). Waiting on the Lord is something we can learn through prayer, seeking, active trusting, patience, and courage. When we wait on the Lord, we confidently anticipate a favorable outcome, for which we ...

Anything you say, do, or think that is contrary to what God desires is considered sin. Sin is the failure to do what is right, and sin offends people because it is wrong, unloving toward others, and ultimately rebellion against God. Furthermore, according to the Bible, sin is a condition in which the heart has a proclivity toward evil. The most serious aspect of sin is that it is the sole cause of our separation from God. Sin cannot exist in God's presence because he is holy. As a result, it is what separates us from him.

Even if you don't have everything together, rest certain that God sees you as his priceless possession. Your past does not define who you are today. In actuality, from a spiritual viewpoint, who you are today is not determined by your past. It might affect your thoughts, but it doesn't make you who you are. God proclaims our true identity: that we are made in His likeness and in His image, reflecting both the male and female facets of God (according to Genesis 1:26-27).

Nature has four seasons, which are: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. When it's summer, we think of sunshine and warm weather, and when it's winter, we think of cold temperatures. Just as there are four distinct seasons in nature, there also seem to be several spiritual seasons in our lives. God’s Word uses the seasons as a metaphor for biblical living because life is not constant.  When we fail to recognize and understand the season we are in, we can occasionally find ourselves perplexed and trapped in issues that completely devastate us.

The Holy Spirit also serves as a counselor, guiding us in the right path and revealing God's truth. Knowing God's Word is one of the most important ways to realize the Holy Spirit's guidance. The Holy Spirit does not speak on his own; he speaks what the Father tells him to say (read John 16:13). And knowing God's Word can help us determine whether our desires are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit will never push us to do anything contrary to God's Word, we must test our desires in light of Scripture. Another way to determine whether we are following the Holy Spirit's leading is to look for evidence of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). If we walk in the Spirit, we will see these qualities grow and mature in ourselves, and they will be visible to others as well.