A Heart for Christ

Monday, October 13, 2025

Growing Strong with Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) says, “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” This verse reminds us that following Jesus isn’t something we do once and then stop. It’s a journey, and God wants us to keep growing in Him. When we grow closer to Jesus, we start to understand His love better. We can see His plans more clearly and open ourselves up to new blessings that come from living for Him.

Growing with God is so important because when we stay in the same spot too long, our hearts can start to drift from Him. Think of it like this—if you stop practicing a sport or an instrument, you don’t grow, and over time you lose your skill. The same is true spiritually. If we stop learning, praying, and spending time with Jesus, our relationship with Him won’t be as strong as it could be. But when we keep moving forward—even in small steps—our hearts stay close, our faith stays alive, and we stay ready for whatever God wants to do in our lives.

Hebrews 5:12 (NLT) says, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” This verse reminds us that growing in Christ is like growing up. We aren’t supposed to stay small in our faith. Just like a baby needs milk before they can eat solid food, we need to keep learning and practicing God’s Word so we can get stronger in Him. When we do, we can help others too and show what it looks like to really follow Jesus.

When we don’t grow, there can be consequences. Just like we gain blessings when we follow God, we can miss out if we stay stuck. Life can start to feel off—grades might slip, our responsibilities get harder, or things just get crazy and don’t feel right. Now, growing with God isn’t just about getting blessings—it’s also about keeping our lives lined up with Him so we can love Him the way He deserves, and be strong in Christ.

Our goal is simple: we need to keep growing with God every day. Pray when you feel stuck, read His Word to learn more about Him, and take little steps to follow Jesus in everything you do. Growing spiritually and increasing our faith isn’t always easy, but every little bit counts. As we grow, we start to notice changes in how we think, how we treat others, and how we handle the hard things in life. God is shaping us from the inside out, and the more we trust Him, the stronger and closer to Him we become. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Growing Strong with Jesus Christ”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Monday, October 6, 2025

The Fruit of the Spirit

When we give our lives to God through Jesus Christ, His Spirit starts working inside of us, helping us become more like Him. God’s Spirit is the Holy Spirit, and He produces very good things in us. The Bible calls this “the fruit of the Spirit.” It’s not something we can earn or fake—it’s something God grows in us over time. Philippians 2:13 (NLT) reminds us, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

That means the good things that come from our lives—like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are proof that God is working in our hearts. He wants us to grow the Spirit’s fruit because He wants His peace to live in us and shine through us.

This also shows us that anything in our lives that doesn’t look like these fruits—anger, jealousy, selfishness, or unkind words—aren’t from God. They’re distractions or influences from darkness that can pull us away from Him. Galatians 5:16 (NLT) reminds us, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” When we let God guide us, He helps us replace the things that hurt us or others with the Spirit’s fruit.

So we should always try to let all of these fruits show up in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—so we can serve God the way He wants us to. When we focus on growing these things in our hearts, it helps us stay away from desires or feelings that aren’t from Him. Galatians 5:25 (NLT) says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” When we do that, our lives start to reflect Jesus more and more, and that’s exactly what God wants for each of us. ■

Monday, September 29, 2025

The Coming of Christ

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Matthew 24:44 NLT

The Gospels talk about the first time Jesus came to earth. John 1:14 (NLT) says, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” Over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, our precious Lord and Savior, lived on this earth. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, helped the deaf to hear, and He showed love and compassion to everyone. But the cross showed the greatest love of all, because He sacrificed His life so that we could live receive salvation and live forever with Him. Jesus came then so we could know Him now.

Jesus promised that He would come again, and this we often call this “The Rapture.” The Bible teaches that one day He will return for His people—those who believe in Him and follow Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (NLT) says, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” You may have already heard about the Rapture at church or from your family, but here’s the important thing: it could happen at any time.

That’s why Matthew 24:44 (NLT) says, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” We can’t wait until “later” to take God seriously. Jesus could return at any moment, so every day matters. We need to live each day ready for Him—trusting, loving, and following Him with all our hearts.

One way we stay ready is by turning away from the sins we keep repeating and messing up with. We should humble ourselves, ask our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, and not act like He doesn’t see or is okay with it when we keep doing wrong. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” God isn’t looking for perfect people—He just wants hearts that keep running back to Him.

Another way to stay ready is by sharing our faith. If we know Jesus is coming back, we shouldn’t keep that to ourselves! This is the time to invite friends, family, or anyone we can into God’s kingdom.

But we also need to be careful. The Bible warns us that in the end times there will be people who try to trick believers. Matthew 24:24 (NLT) says, “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”

This means not everyone who talks about Jesus is truly following Him. Some will even pretend to beHim! That’s why we must know what God’s Word says, so we won’t be fooled.

A while back, there was even a rumor on social media that the Rapture was going to happen on September 23rd. Some people believed it so much that they sold their homes, cars, and even quit their jobs. But the Bible says in Matthew 24:36 (NLT), “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” That shows us that we have to be careful who we listen to and stay close to Jesus.

As followers and believers of Christ, we need to stand strong in God’s Word. We need to keep our focus on Him, and not let anything else come before Him. The best way to prepare for Jesus’ return is to walk closely with Him every day. When we do that, we’ll be ready whenever He comes.

Monday, September 22, 2025

Being Greedy

Being greedy is a trap that a lot of people fall into, especially when it comes to money, fame, or food. Greed can pull people away from God whenever their desire for things becomes stronger than their desire for Him. It can pull so hard on us that we start to only focus on getting more. It can lead to selfishness, fighting, and even hurtful choices. This is a path that only leads to destruction.

Luke 12:15 (NLT) says, “Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” This verse reminds us that having lots of things doesn’t make life meaningful. Think of it like this: having the latest gaming console, the trendiest clothes, or a ton of followers on social media doesn’t automatically make you happy. You could have all that—and still feel empty inside. Only God can really fill your heart and make you feel complete—no amount of toys, money, or fame can do that.

The wisdom of Proverbs 28:25 (NLT) tells us, “Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.”Greed might seem exciting—like, “I want it all right now!”—but it usually brings drama, fights, and stress. Trusting God is where the real win is. When we focus on Him instead of chasing stuff, that’s when blessings actually show up.

So remember, it’s okay to enjoy things, but never let wanting more take over your heart. God is the only one who can truly satisfy you. He knows what truly makes your heart happy.

Prayer

Dear Father God,

Help me to trust You more than material things, popularity, or anything else. Keep my heart focused on what really matters. Please remind me that true happiness comes from You. When I start wanting too much, help me pause and turn to You instead. Thank You for filling my heart with what I really need. In the powerful name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, September 15, 2025

Being Prideful

You’ve probably met someone who always seems arrogant or prideful, the kind of person who’s a headache to be around. You might wonder why they think so highly of themselves. Most of the time, it’s because they believe having something “special” automatically makes them better than everyone else.

Proverbs 16:18 (NLT) says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”

This verse shows us that being arrogant doesn’t just make others annoyed—it will bring us down spiritually too.

Instead of thinking you’re “higher” than the people around you, it’s important to humble yourself and ask God for guidance. When we seek Him, we can live in a way that pleases Him and obeys His commands.

Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) says, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

That means when we notice our own pride and choose to let it go, we can grow in wisdom and become better people.

So in conclusion, keeping a humble mindset and avoiding bragging or arrogance helps us please our Lord and Savior. Humility opens the door for God to work in our lives and helps us grow closer to Him.

Prayer

Dear Father God,

Thank You for showing me how important humility is. Help me to notice when pride sneaks into my heart and give me the strength to choose humility instead. Teach me to trust You and follow Your guidance so I can please You in everything I do. In the powerful name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, September 8, 2025

Is Jealousy A Sin?

Have you ever seen someone get something you really, really wanted? Maybe it was the new phone, the spot on the team, or even the grade you worked hard for but didn’t get. I know I’ve felt that before, and honestly, it’s not fun. It’s strange how jealousy can sneak in, but it does sometimes. But we don’t have to let it take over our thoughts and feelings. But God showed me something important in His Word, and it’s this: jealousy doesn’t lead us anywhere good.

James 3:16 (NLT) says, “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” This verse makes it clear—jealousy doesn’t produce anything good. Instead of showing love, joy, and peace (the fruit of the Spirit), jealousy stirs up just the opposite.

It’s awesome when we think about how much our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, understands our emotions. Even when other people don’t “get it,” He does. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”And because He understands, we can trust Him to help us through all the feelings and hard times we face.

Jealousy is a sin, and He doesn’t want us to go down that wrong path. That’s why He warns us about jealousy. He knows the root of it—how it can grow like a bad tree and end up pulling us away from Him. Galatians 5:26 (NLT) says, “Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” God wants us to keep our hearts clean, so nothing blocks our friendship with Him.

Here’s the good news: God already has a plan for each of us. He knows the right time, the right season, and the right way to bless us. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT) says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” That means your time is coming—you don’t have to worry or compare yourself to anyone else.

So the next time you feel jealous, remember this: God hasn’t forgotten you. He knows the desires of your heart, and He’s working it out in His perfect timing. Instead of being jealous, trust Him, thank Him for what He’s already given you, and believe that your blessing is on the way.