STUDENT ARTICLES

The Importance of Our Attitude
                                                                            By Melissa Thompson

Something that I've been learning in my quiet time lately is that we, as Christians, are to be thankful, joyful, and prayerful always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
This reminds me of the situation where Paul and Silas were beaten and sent to prison because they had cast an evil spirit out of a servant girl. (Acts 16:16-25) Even though they were in chains and in prison the Bible says that they were praying and singing hymns to God! I don't know about you but I have a strong feeling that I would have been reacting a little differently! It must have been really hard to have a good attitude when things weren't going so well, but Paul and Silas were rewarded for it. Because of their attitude, God sent an earthquake and freed them from prison, and because of their testimony the jailer and his whole family became saved. It won't be easy to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful when we're in a tough situation, but God will reward us for it in the end.

Listening to the Advice of Others
By Aaron Woodard

Recently the Lord spoke to me through I Samuel 25:29 about how I can seek His will in my life. In this verse, David is approached by Abigail who speaks to him about how King Saul was pursuing him to kill him. She basically tells David that when times are tough and we “have something on our back” that we are bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord. As Abigail encouraged David to continue to seek God’s will, so should we help others seek God’s will for their lives.
David responded to Abigail in verse 33 by saying: “May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.” When people give Godly advice or guidance, we should listen to them and thank them for helping us make wise decisions. We are surrounded by many people who are devoted to Christ, so in times of trouble, don’t be afraid to look to one another.