ApplyGodsWord.com

Should You Make Promises to God?

September 11, 2018August 16, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

Should you make promises to God? It’s tempting to make a promise to God after you sin in some terrible way, “God, I promise I will never do that again if your forgive me.” Or when you want something desperately, it’s easy to say something like, “God, I promise I will serve you my whole life if you do this one thing for me.”

To cut right to the answer for the question, “Should you make promises to God?” the answer is “No.” Christianity is not about making promises to God. Christianity is about relying on the promises of God.

How to Hear God (Part 4 of 4)

August 20, 2017August 14, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

In this “How to Hear God” series, we have talked about the three most common ways to hear God’s voice: Through his word, through the Holy Spirit’s impressions on your heart, and through the circumstances of your life.

In closing we must acknowledge that sometimes, despite out best efforts and methods, we can find it difficult to hear what God is saying to do. So what should you do when you cannot hear the voice of God? What should you do when you don’t have clarity on his will for you?

How to Hear God (Part 3 of 4)

August 20, 2017August 12, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

How can you hear God’s voice? How can you know what God’s will is for you? How can you be certain which way God is leading you?

How to Hear God (Part 2 of 4)

August 20, 2017August 12, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

how to hear God's voice bible — Acts 20:22-23

Hearing God’s voice always starts with the Bible. If you want to know the will of God, it always starts with knowing the word of God. If you ever “hear God” say something that contradicts Scripture, you have not actually heard God. The voice of God can be heard every time you submit to the Holy Spirit illuminating the Scriptures to your heart and mind.

How to Hear God (Part 1 of 4)

August 20, 2017August 11, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

There’s been so many times in life where I said, “How can I hear God’s voice? I just want to know what God is saying to me so I can make the right decision! Which way am I supposed to go, Lord?” When there’s a big decision to make in life, you want nothing more than to simply know for certain what God is actually saying to you.

How to Serve God With Technology

August 7, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

Does God use technology? As Christians, should we seek to learn how to serve God with technology?

It makes sense to ask such questions because everywhere you look there is new technology coming out. Babies literally grow up with their millennial parents’ smart phones in their hands (and mouths!), learning to swipe, tap, and shake to get what they want from that beautiful, glowing device.And as they drool all over their parents’ newest tech, their baby boomer grandparents are right their hovering over them, recording it all on their own smart phones.

What Is the Difference Between Condemnation and Conviction?

May 28, 2018August 2, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

Is there a healthy guilt and an unhealthy guilt according to the Bible? Is there a biblical difference between condemnation and conviction? Does the Bible say Christians should still experience condemnation, conviction, both, or neither?

In short, there are many differences between condemnation and conviction. When the two are confused, great harm can occur in the Christian soul.

9 Christian Marriage Principles

March 8, 2018July 28, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

In light of just celebrating my ninth year of marriage with Bethany, here is a list of nine Christian marriage principles we’ve learned together.

Intertwined (2 Free Sample Chapters)

November 25, 2018July 25, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

Read two free sample chapters from my newest book, Intertwined: Our Happiness Is Tied to God’s Glory (Two Free Sample Chapters PDF)

Intertwined by Mark Ballenger — Click the book cover to read two free sample chapters.

As children we imagined we would find the perfect spouse, the perfect job, buy the perfect house, go on perfect adventures, and well . . . have the perfect life. Somewhere along the way, however, we quickly realized we will experience many things on this earth, but perfection is certainly not one of them.

What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness and Reconciliation?

May 28, 2018July 20, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

What does the Bible say about forgiveness and reconciliation? It’s the right question to ask because of all the places to look, the Bible is absolutely jammed packed with relevant information regarding the connection between forgiveness and reconciliation.

What’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Must you always reconcile to forgive? Do you need both people to choose forgiveness for it to occur? Do you need both people to choose to be reconciled? The Bible answers all of these questions about forgiveness and reconciliation.