Have you ever experienced public disapproval? Have you ever felt like an outcast for not meeting people's expectations? We have all faced moments of shame where we felt inadequate and our failures were used against us. A recent study shows that 7 out of 10 people experience shame in their lives. This emotion can negatively impact our self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being. In today’s sermon, we will learn about Elizabeth, a woman who faced the shame of not being able to have children in a society that highly valued motherhood. But with God's grace, she moved from shame to blessedness. We can learn from her that "God's grace can overcome our disgrace." Are you ready to let go of your shame and embrace the blessings of God's favor on you? Open your hearts, and let us embark on this journey together. There are three stages to this journey.

It is God's will that we continue in the Lord, trusting in His grace until we finish the race. He does not want us to get lost. But this does not happen automatically. He created us and the universe in such a way that it's possible to get lost. In fact, if we do not make the effort to guard our faith, we can get lost.

Regardless of who we vote for, one thing is for sure. Some of us will lose while others will win. Some candidates will be elected, while others will not. The winners will celebrate and be happy. But what about the losers? No one wants to lose. That's why losing will be a form of spiritual formation for many of us. How we respond when we lose will reveal our true hearts.

Here is a testimony of a husband who understood what it meant to be the better half. Although his wife is now bedridden, he now aspires to become the best half of his wife.

Everything else that we have talked about so far in this series is really about preparing for this last topic. This is really the most important question: How do we pray Transforming Prayers? Prayer is part of the classical disciplines of the Christian church. It is essential to our identity. But not everyone knows how to pray in this way. Often our prayers fall short of actually transforming us, other people, or even the world we live in. In other words, we pray only as needed or when there are emergencies, but not for transformation.

Processing our emotions can often feel overwhelming and frustrating. It requires effort, time, and courage to explore the depths of our inner selves. This journey is marked by ups and downs, but with God’s grace, we can evaluate our progress by looking at the life of Jesus, who exemplified what it means to be fully human while experiencing a wide range of emotions in various situations. What does it mean to be an emotionally mature disciple? Drawing from the example of Jesus, the first disciple, we can identify four key characteristics that reflect emotional maturity.

In our walk of faith, we often encounter challenges that can hinder our emotional and spiritual health. These challenges can be subtle yet powerful, affecting our ability to process our emotions. It's easy to become entangled in feelings and thoughts that lead us away from God's intended path for us. Today, we will explore the importance of recognizing these challenges to enable us to live more fully in God's grace and love together with others.

Whenever we face significant emotional experiences, we often struggle to know what to do. Many of us end up bottling our emotions, engaging in escape patterns like staying busy, seeking distractions, pursuing more fun, or engaging in self-centered activities. In more severe cases, some deconstruct their faith, blame God or Christians, transfer to another church, or abandon spiritual disciplines. These responses can lead to indifference, apathy, unhealed wounds, lack of self-awareness, problematic behavior, division, and distancing ourselves from God and His people.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, Paul emphasizes the value of suffering in drawing us nearer to God, allowing us to experience His comfort and grace. Moreover, he provides a model for processing our emotions. Today, we will explore four principles from Paul's example to help us navigate our emotions in a healthy, faith-filled way.

Emotions wield significant power over our lives. They can inspire, drive, and create joy or passion, but they can also lead to stress, paralysis, and pain. Mismanagement of emotions—either through repression or overexpression—can have detrimental effects. When we fail to handle our emotions in a healthy, Biblical manner, we risk becoming emotionally immature. Emotional maturity is crucial for our overall well-being and our ability to fulfill our calling in Christ.

So, why is it important to confront our feelings with faith?

Tests are an essential part of our journey, refining and preparing us for God's work. They act as a purification process, enhancing our character and faith. Tests confirm the genuineness of our faith and build perseverance, patience, and spiritual maturity in us. Additionally, they prepare us for future challenges so that we can fulfill God's purpose for our lives. Tests are God's invitation for us to grow deeper in our faith in Him.