The Subtle Lure of Cultural Pressure

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 16, 2022, and this is Episode #20 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “The Subtle Lure of Cultural Pressure”.
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We’ve all heard of peer pressure. Our parents warned us against it. If we heeded our parents’ warnings, we avoided a lot of suffering. If we did not heed our parents’ warnings, we paid dire consequences, many of which may still be operative in our lives today. 

Well, peer pressure isn’t just something young people need to guard against. Peer pressure is a tactic that Satan uses throughout our lives. And, if we are not aware of it, we will end up in some serious trouble.

Peer pressure has a lot of different names. One of the most common today is “political correctness.”  To be politically correct is to go along with a culture’s political and social agenda. Just look around. So many people–even so-called Christians–have caved in to the anti-Biblical, political and social agenda that is being blatantly and brazenly proclaimed throughout our country and throughout the world. We are witnessing active and arrogant rebellion against God and His Word. Opposition to God’s commandments has run wild, with the result that lawlessness prevails and deception runs rampant. 

The Bible calls peer pressure and political correctness “the fear of man.” Take a look at Proverbs 29: 25: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”  A snare is a trap. So, the Bible is saying that when we fear man –in other words, when we worry about what people think–we fall into a trap.

What kind of trap?

A trap that leads to death and destruction.

Isn’t that what we’re seeing around us?  Death in the form of abortion, infanticide, increase in homicides and suicides? And destruction in the form of drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and child abuse? Are we not seeing looting, shoplifting, vandalism, attacks against our law enforcement officers?

Indeed, we are. Our country has gone crazy because we have allowed ourselves to be taken captive by social and cultural pressure. We have caved in as a nation to putting more stock in what others think than in what God thinks.

Are you giving in to the peer pressure of societal lies? Are you sliding down the slippery slope that leads to death and destruction? Are you opposing God and exalting yourself?

Yes, that’s what peer pressure ultimately does. It exalts the Self over God. And, bottom line, that’s what’s wrong with our culture today. We have become a society of mini-gods, each one doing his own thing, each one deciding for himself what’s true and not true. Each one establishing his own rule of moral conduct.

Relativism is the name of the game these days. My truth is my truth, and your truth is your truth.  Well, how far has that gotten us? It has led only to mass confusion, societal and family division, and a people who can no longer think straight.

I urge you to take a hard look at yourself.  Are you supporting a social agenda that violates God’s commandments? Yes, I’m talking about abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, euthanasia, greed, vandalism, looting and shoplifting, theft, homicide, crime, rebellion against authority, and hatred among people?  All of these things are contrary to God’s design for our lives. God will bring severe judgment on those who do not forsake their sin and repent.

What about you? Do you love the praise of men more than the praise of God? If so, you will never see the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to take such an eternal risk? Do you want to spend eternity–that’s forever–separated from God and tormented in Hell? Is the approval of others more important to you than the approval of God? If so, you are in grave spiritual danger.

My friend, I pray that you take this message seriously. 

Years ago, I heard a quote that has stuck with me. It is this: “Observe the masses and do the opposite.”  The crowd is heading in the wrong direction. If you want to be safe, don’t follow the crowd. Go in the opposite direction. 

Jesus said this in Matthew 7: 14: “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Do you want to be one of those few who find the way to life? If so, you must do things God’s way. For only His way leads to life.

The first step on the road to life is to accept Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. He desires a personal relationship with you. Won’t you accept his invitation?

If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I urge you to establish one now. All you need to do is to repent of your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and invite him into your life. Please pray this simple prayer after me:

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I admit that I have been going the wrong way, my own way and not your way. I recognize that my sin put You on that Cross where You died for me. So, I repent of my sin, I turn away from it, and I ask You to forgive me. I invite You into my life now. I receive You now as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make me what You created me to be. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you did not pray this prayer with me, please reconsider. Jesus Christ is coming back soon to remove from the earth all those who follow Him. The rest of the world’s population will be left behind and will face the most horrific time in human history under the dictatorship of the AntiChrist. If you do not believe me, do your own research. 

Thousands of years ago, the Bible predicted exactly what is happening in our world today. Everything is coming to pass exactly as the Bible predicted. The Bible has never been wrong. I have been following Jesus for 52 wonderful years, and He has never failed me. Nor will he ever fail you if you choose to follow Him. 

I urge you: Follow Jesus Christ. Accept Him into your life. He is the only way to be saved.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Winning with the Word now reaches 70 countries throughout the world because of the help of patrons like you. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Check out my Bookstore at https://maryanndiorio.com/book-table for books that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Join my wonderful Team of Readers by subscribing to my Author Newsletter at
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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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Are You Reading the Wrong Story?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

AN INVITATION TO YOU:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

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NOTE: This is a reprint and replay of an earlier post.

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and Certified Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, February 7, 2022, and this is Episode #6 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Are You Reading the Wrong Story?.”

Years ago, I was driving along the Beltway outside of Washington, DC, when I missed my exit. Of course, I didn’t realize that I had missed my exit until I started passing the same landmarks I had already passed. But, I had to go around the Beltway yet again in order to reach my exit. So, around the Beltway I went. Again!

Perhaps your life feels like my Beltway ride. You’re going around the same circle again and again. Or you’re going around the same mountain again and again, getting nowhere except frustrated. If so, I can relate.

There’s a saying that doing the same thing over and over again without getting results is insanity. If this describes you, perhaps you’re reading the wrong story.

What do I mean?

Well, each of us reads and follows a story for our lives. It is usually the story we’ve grown up with or been told along the way. We think it’s the right story because the ones who told us the story were trusted people in our lives. 

For example, we may all have heard the story that, to be successful, we need to “grow up, get a job, and work hard.” That’s the story I heard growing up. Perhaps it’s the same story you heard. So, let me ask you: “Is that story working for you?”

You see, it’s not necessarily working hard that makes you successful; it’s working smart with the wisdom of God. 

What does it mean to work smart? Here are a few thoughts I’d like to share with you:

1__Working smart being doing things God’s way, not our own way. Years ago, I was talking with the Lord when He spoke these words to me: “Your vision is Your provision.”  

One huge thing I learned when I stopped reading the wrong story is that working smart does not mean trading hours for dollars. You see, when you trade hours for dollars, if you need more dollars you have to work more hours. That’s what most people are doing today. They are trading hours for dollars. In fact, that is the work model throughout most of the world. And this “hard” work model is stressing out a lot of people, leaving them little better than they were when they started the journey.

If you’re like most people, you’re thinking, “the harder I work, the behinder I get.” 

Yet, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 23: 4 MSG, “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.” 

This verse sheds light on something very important. It implies that we don’t have to kill ourselves in order to achieve financial freedom. Or any other kind of freedom for that matter.

Another wrong story I read growing up was that I had to earn my way to Heaven. I remember asking a priest one day, “How and when will I know if I’ve done enough to get into Heaven?” He said, “You’ll find out when you die!”

What? I looked at him in disbelief.

I don’t know about you, my friend, but I certainly didn’t want to take such a chance. Would you? What if, after I died, I found out that I had not done enough? Then what? It would be too late to do more.

You see, reading the wrong story can have very serious consequences, not only in this life but also in the life to come. 

What about you? Are you reading the wrong story? 

You may be asking, “How can I know?”

You can know by comparing the story you’re reading with the story that’s written in the Bible. That is the only true story. That is the only story that will keep you from wasting your life doing the wrong things. That is the only story that will ultimately lead you to Heaven.

If you’ve been reading the wrong story, switch stories today. Start reading the Holy Bible, the only story that will lead you to all truth, whether it’s in this life or in the life after this one. 

The best thing about reading the Bible is that, as you read it, you will discover the One Who died and rose from the dead to save you. You will be meeting Jesus Christ Himself. From beginning to end–from Genesis to Revelation–Jesus is the focal point of the Bible. All things were created by Him, subsist by Him, and have their destiny in Him. 

If you do not yet know this magnificent Jesus, I urge you to invite Him into your life today. He wants a relationship with you because He loves you. And He loves you just as you are and just where you are. You don’t have to do anything to earn His love. He has already given it to you. So just receive it. Pray this simple prayer after me now:

Lord Jesus, I want to read the right story. I want to read Your story. So I repent of my sin now, and I invite You into my life to be my Savior and my Lord. Reveal Yourself to me through Your story. In Your Name I pray, Lord. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com or at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you get started in your walk with Christ.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

I also invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table. There you can find a complete listing of my books for both children and adults at the vendor of your choice for the price of your choice.

Finally, if you’re looking for someone to walk alongside you as you find and fulfill God’s purpose for your life, consider hiring me as your Personal Life Coach. Visit my coaching website at CelebrationLifeCoaching.com or contact me at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!

To subscribe to Winning with the Word, click on the link in this blog post.
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To subscribe to my author newsletter, click on the link below:
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To follow me on social media platforms, click on the link below:
linktr.ee/maryanndiorio

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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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Holding On to the End of Your Rope

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

 

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

___________________________________________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, April 4, 2022, and this is Episode #14 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Holding On to the End of Your Rope.”

In my award-winning novel, In Black and White, my main character, white woman Tori Pendola, faces rejection, guilt, and racial injustice as she strives to remain true to the black man she loves. The question she faces at the beginning of the story is, Will their love survive the cruel and bitter attacks against them, or will hatred and prejudice gain the upper hand?

As Tori faces the demons of societal hatred, she reaches the end of her rope. Scorned by her parents and friends, she finds strength in her faith in God to hold on tightly to the end of her rope and to hang on even when things seem impossible.

Perhaps you, too, are hanging on to the end of your rope. Perhaps you, too, are facing a hopeless situation whose solution or resolution seems impossible. If so, I urge you to hang on to the end of your rope, for help is nearby.

So, what does it mean in practical terms to hang on to the end of your rope?  Here are a few thoughts from one who has had to hang on to the end of her rope many times during her 76 years here on this earth:

1) Focus on who is holding the rope. God Himself is holding your rope, and God won’t let go. You can trust that He has a firm grip on your life and that you will not fall as long as you trust Him.

2) Focus on what the rope is made of. God’s rope is unbreakable. It is made of faith. It will hold you as long as you hold it. It is only when we let go of God’s rope that we fall into danger and destruction.

3) Focus on one moment at a time. Don’t think about how much longer you will have to hang on to the end of your rope. Think about how long you have already hung on, and hung on successfully. With God’s help, you can hang on one more minute. Remember this: God will not allow you to hang on to your rope beyond the strength He gives you. And He will give you His strength until it’s His time to lift you off the rope.

The expression “at the end of one’s rope” is primarily an American expression. The British say “at the end of one’s tether.” The phrase can be traced back to the 1680s. Its meaning refers to someone who has been thrown a safety rope and has run out of length, strength, endurance, or patience.

Why does God allow ropes in our lives for us to hang on to? One of the chief reasons is to get our attention. To get us to turn to Him when we have nowhere else to turn. When we are at the end of our rope, we are in a very vulnerable position of helplessness. And, sad to say, most of the time we have to reach that position before we will turn to God.

In my novel, Tori was at the end of her rope. But as she hung there, she learned some powerful truths about herself and about God–truths you will find out when you read the book. Purchase details for In Black and White are at the end of this blog post or in the show notes if you’re listening to the podcast.

If you have reached the end of your rope and want to turn to Jesus Christ, pray this simple prayer with me now:

Lord Jesus, I am at the end of my rope and don’t know where to turn. Dr. MaryAnn says I should turn to you. So I do. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me. I recognize that my sin put You on that Cross where You died for me. Forgive me, Lord! Cleanse me. I want to be born again. I want to escape Your wrath and receive Your mercy and grace. I want to get off this rope. So I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Lead me to a good church with a good pastor who preaches Your Word without compromise. Make me what You created me to be, O God. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you need help to move forward in your relationship with Jesus, consider hiring me as your personal life coach. Contact me at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com to set up an appointment. Also, visit my website at CelebrationLifeCoaching.com for answers to many of your questions about coaching and for testimonials from some of the clients I have already helped.

For example, Tracy said this; “Personal coaching was like having a personal trainer for the mind.”
Just click here: CelebrationLifeCoaching.com/testimonials.

Also, visit my bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for outstanding books that I have written that will bless you.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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To purchase your copy of In Black and White, click on your link of preference below:

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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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Fighting the Fear Factor

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

 

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

___________________________________________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, March 28, 2022, and this is Episode #13 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Fighting the Fear Factor.”

It doesn’t take much to notice that our world today is ruled by fear. Fear is a crippler. A cruel taskmaster. A deterrent to freedom. 

Are you consumed by fear? If so, pay close attention.

For many years, I was consumed by fear. I grew up in a fearful environment. I learned how to fear the worst instead of expecting the best. But when I came to Jesus Christ, He delivered me from all fear. But, I had to take that truth and make it experiential in my life. I had to resist the spirit of fear with the weapons of spiritual warfare that God had given me in Christ.

Although there are seemingly many reasons to fear, we do not have to be ruled by fear if we are in Christ. Scripture calls fear a spirit. In 2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV, we read: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Fear, therefore, is not simply a terrible negative emotion. Fear is actually an evil spirit that continually tries to rob us of our peace. When we look at fear as a spirit, we then know that we must deal with it spiritually.

Here’s how:

__Saturate your mind and heart with the Word of God. Hide it in your heart through reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing. When the Word of God is hidden in your heart, it will rise within you and arm you when you are tempted to fear.

__Seek God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. We do this through prayer and through spending time in God’s Presence. Let Him speak to you. Listen for His voice, and write down what He says to you.

__When you are tempted to fear, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Fear is a temptation. When we feel fear, we do not have to give in to it. Remember: Fear is a spirit. And God has given us spiritual weapons to fight it. Those weapons are called the “armor of God,” and they are listed in Ephesians 6: 11-18:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.”

The spiritual weapons God has given us will defeat fear every time. So use your weapons. When I am tempted to fear, I picture myself taking the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and chasing down the enemy as I pierce him over and over with the Sword of God’s Truth. Remember this: We Christians operate from a position of victory. We are not out to win the battle. Jesus has already won it for us. We are out to defend and enforce our victory.

But, in order to conquer fear, we must be born-again. Otherwise, we do not have the power to stand against fear. Oh, we may find temporary respite through natural means—like counseling. But the victory will not be permanent. Why not? Because fear is a spirit, and we can overcome it only with spiritual weapons. And those spiritual weapons are given to us only when we become part of God’s Kingdom.

How do we become part of God’s Kingdom? By accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Jesus is the Door to God’s Kingdom. We enter God’s Kingdom only through Jesus.

If you have not yet been born again, I would urge you to make that life-changing decision now. How? By taking the following steps:

1. Admit that you are a sinner. 
2. Repent of your sin.
3. Ask God to forgive you of your sin.
4. Invite Jesus Christ into your life to be your Savior and Lord.

Let’s pray together so that you can be born again right now. Please repeat this simple prayer after me:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me. I recognize that my sin put You on that Cross where You died for me. Forgive me, Lord! Cleanse me. I want to be born again. I want to escape Your wrath and receive Your mercy and grace. So I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Lead me to a good church with a good pastor who preaches Your Word without compromise. Make me what You created me to be, O God. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you need help to move forward in your relationship with Jesus, consider hiring me as your personal life coach. Contact me at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com to set up an appointment. Also, visit my website at CelebrationLifeCoaching.com for answers to many of your questions about coaching and for testimonials from some of the clients I have already helped.

For example, Tracy said this; “Personal coaching was like having a personal trainer for the mind.”
Just click here: CelebrationLifeCoaching.com/testimonials.

Also, visit my bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for outstanding books that I have written that will bless you.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
________________________________
Source cited: “The Death Rattle of Consumer Christianity” by Matt Reynold
https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-death-rattle-of-consumer-christianity

To subscribe to Winning with the Word, click on the link in this blog post.
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w4q0z7

To subscribe to my author newsletter, click on the link below:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/x5i2r2

To follow me on social media platforms, click on the link below:
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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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Are You a Consumer Christian?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, March 7, 2022, and this is Episode #10 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Are You a Consumer Christian?”

So, what is a consumer Christian? In short, it is a person who looks to God as a vending machine.

Wow! That’s a pretty disrespectful way of looking at God, isn’t it?

Yes. It most certainly is!

Yet, all of us have been guilty of consumer Christianity at one point or another.

You may be asking, “How so?”

Well, let me give you some examples:

1. Do you go to God only when you’re in trouble?
2. Do you spend more time asking God for what you need than you do in worshipping Him? 
3. Does your life revolve around you and the things you’re interested in rather than revolving around God and the things that matter to Him?

These are only a few of the ways we have bought into Consumer Christianity.

And, I can assure you that our Lord is not pleased!

In an insightful article by Matt Reynolds, titled “The Death Rattle of Consumer Christianity,” and published on July 20, 2020, the author writes this:

“The consumeristic approach we’ve taken to church life in the United States is collapsing because it lacks a foundation. We have favored pragmatism over theology, crowds over disciples, marketing over evangelism, coffee bars over catechism. We have shown greater commitment to manufacturing celebrity pastors than lifting up unseen, humble, and sacrificial shepherds.”

How true and how sad!

But we have only ourselves to blame. Yes, there are pastors who have not been what they should have been to the flock of Christ. Pastors who have twisted and perverted the Gospel for their own gain and their own fame. But we are individually responsible for our own lives. Scripture warns us in Philippians 2: 13 to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.” In other words, we cannot pass the buck to poor pastors when it comes to the kind of Christian life we are leading.

So, let me ask you again: “Are you a Consumer Christian?” If so, do an about-face. Repent and get serious about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Worship Him because He is God and for no other reason. He alone deserves our worship, adoration, and praise. No matter what!

If you do not yet know this awesome Jesus Who died and rose from the dead for you, welcome Him into your life now. He is the only way you can be saved. He is your only ticket to Heaven. There is no other way, no matter what anyone tells you.

In Acts 1: 11, the Bible says this: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” Hallelujah!  Yes, this same Jesus will one day very soon return in the same way He left to remove His Bride from the earth and to take her to be with Him forever in Heaven. Those of us who are born again are that Bride. You can be, too!

How? By accepting Jesus Christ now. Pray this simple prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, I want to go with You when You remove Your Bride from the earth. So I now repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me. I receive You as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you need help to move forward in your relationship with Jesus, consider hiring me as your personal life coach. Contact me at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com to set up an appointment. Also, visit my website at CelebrationLifeCoaching.com for answers to many of your questions about coaching and for testimonials from some of the clients I have already helped.

For example, Tracy said this; “Personal coaching was like having a personal trainer for the mind.”
Just click here: CelebrationLifeCoaching.com/testimonials.

Also, visit my bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for outstanding books that I have written that will bless you.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Source cited: “The Death Rattle of Consumer Christianity” by Matt Reynold
https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-death-rattle-of-consumer-christianity

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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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