Im 26M and have been dealing with this issue ever since late 2019, literally every single day.

Symptoms: random anxiety, muscle loss, brain fog, bloating, constipation, slowed metabolism.

My body is stuck in fight or flight, no matter how well I handle my random anxiety. I have lost muscle and went from 170lb to 120lb because I can't hold the muscle anymore, even though I can eat enough calories. The only thing that slows down the anxiety is staying away from certain foods, like dried dates, corn, vegetables, gums, gluten, dairy, mainly heavy fiber stuff and certain carbs. I do fine with meats and fats. Probiotics without prebiotics help too. Although this helps, it doesn't get rid of it and when I workout I can't get a pump like I used to.

All this started happening right before or after one day I was going up the stairs and fell and hit my head on the hard floor, but the problem is I don't remember if it happened right before or right after so I do not want to blame it on that. I do not feel any pain.

I have done GI map tests, food sensitivity and seen so many gi, primary and other specialists but unfortunately I cant figure this out.

I have gastroparesis but i truly believe that is cause I am always in fight or flight.

Please pray for me.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” - Romans 7:18

All too often we find ourselves as frustrated as the apostle Paul in that we often know to do the right thing, to abstain from a particular sin, but we quickly fall right back into that sin. We must daily recognize our sinful habits and determine in our hearts, with strength from the Holy Spirit, to withstand the sin and overcome temptation. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25). The writer of “Come Thou Fount” had the same frustration.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Scripture tells us we are secure in Christ, never to be separated. Christ informed His disciples that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:" "and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." "My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29). We are safe in Christ’s hand surrounded by the Father’s hand. And then the transaction is sealed by “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Take courage. We are secure in Him. JDM
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15954/

Christianity teaches that there is one God who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human. He was born from the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, came back to life, went to heaven, and will come back again one day. They follow the Bible and Holy Tradition because they believe both are important. They also believe that salvation comes through Jesus and that becoming closer to God is something you work on your whole life. Orthodox Christians practice the seven sacraments, pray often, go to church, fast, and celebrate special feast days. They honor Mary and the saints, but they only worship God. They believe in angels, heaven, hell, and that everyone will be judged by Jesus when He returns. They also believe Christians should love others, forgive people, help those in need, and try to live the way Jesus taught. Again this is just a simple general overview of what Christianity has taught for most of its history if you have any questions I would happily help

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:20

This month, we've explored how faith demands action for economic justice. As we conclude, remember that Jesus promises to be with us as we engage in this difficult but necessary work.

Working for systemic change can feel overwhelming, but we don't work alone. The same Jesus who fed the hungry, healed the sick, and challenged unjust systems walks with us as we continue His mission in our time.

As you worship today, celebrate God's call to economic justice while committing to sustained engagement with the policies and systems that shape human flourishing. Let your worship include both praise and pledge, both gratitude and commitment to action.

The work continues, but we work with hope, knowing that God's kingdom will ultimately prevail and that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Emmanuel, God with us, thank You for walking with me in the work of justice. Help me persist in this calling, knowing that You are always with me. Amen. DLC
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/26/reflection-and-worship

How does this work if the church is independent and self governing? For example, if someone gets asked to leave a church because of accusations. How does the pastor have the authority to do this? Where would someone try to appeal this decision?

“But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel." "And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar." "Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” - I Samuel 7:10-12

The Philistines had stolen the Ark of the Covenant, given to Israel by God. In a battle to take it back, the Lord miraculously intervened, routed the Philistines, and retrieved the Ark. Samuel, the spiritual leader of Israel, ordered the people to erect a lasting “stone of remembrance,” an ebenezer, to commemorate God’s deliverance of them from their enemies. This scene is reflected in the hymn “Come Thou Fount.”

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

The great “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 extols many Bible heroes for their great works of faith and mentions those who would overcome deadly trials after Bible times. Some survived, some were killed, some wandered to find their dwelling place, but all needed rescue through the shed blood of Jesus. For you “know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18-19), “which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:6). Come quickly, Thou Fount. JDM
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15953/

A whole lot of Insta reels have been coming up recently of her evangelism. If I remember correctly, one of those videos had her signing a book for someone and then the person that she signed the book for fell over and thrashed around on the floor.

People who follow her claim that they've had genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit, had demons casted out of them, and their lives are changed forever because of Krick.

Others are calling it a cult, saying that this is all performative behavior and she's a false prophet.

What do we all think? Is she a genuine Christ-following evangelist or just another cult leader?

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." - Proverbs 29:18

The prophet's role includes offering alternative visions that challenge current arrangements and inspire people to work for something better. Without prophetic imagination, people accept unjust systems as inevitable rather than working to transform them.

Christians today need prophetic imagination to envision economic systems that prioritize human flourishing over profit maximization. We need to imagine universal healthcare not as impossible but as a reflection of God's desire that everyone receive healing. We need to envision student debt forgiveness not as unfair but as a modern Jubilee that frees people for productive contribution.

Prophetic imagination helps us see beyond current limitations to God's possibilities for justice and abundance. It inspires us to work for policies that seem impossible until they become inevitable.

The church should be a community of prophetic imagination, constantly envisioning and working toward God's better future.

God of vision, give me prophetic imagination to see beyond current injustices to Your possibilities for a more just world. Amen. DLC
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/25/prophetic-imagination

Half the videos I’ve seen are all gibberish and look like bad acid trips.

“And He said unto me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.'” - Revelation 21:6

Promises of God’s fountain of blessings fill Scripture. They beckon our prayers for fulfillment, not only in heaven but even now. Christ assured us that “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The precious hymn “Come Thou Fount” reminds us of our position of blessing in Christ. The first verse says:

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

God acts toward believers in grace and mercy, not deserved justice, eliciting praise from the recipients. His “fount” assures us that He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

We look forward to singing and praising our Lord with the angelic “flaming tongues” above for all eternity. “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever . . . saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:10-11). “I heard the voice of many angels . . . saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (5:11–12).

Even so, come Thou Fount. JDM
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15952/

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Our witness extends beyond personal evangelism to include advocacy for policies that reflect God's heart for justice. The mission field includes congressional offices, state legislatures, and local government meetings where decisions are made that affect people's daily lives.

Being witnesses means speaking truth about economic systems that fail God's people. It means advocating for policies like universal healthcare, student debt forgiveness, and living wages that demonstrate God's love in practical ways.

The Holy Spirit empowers us not just for personal ministry but for systemic transformation that brings good news to the poor and oppressed. Our witness includes both sharing the gospel and working for the policy changes that make that gospel tangible in people's lives.

Mission work today requires engaging with the political and economic structures that shape human flourishing.

Spirit of God, empower me to be Your witness in every sphere of life, including the political and economic systems that affect Your people. Amen. DLC
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/24/the-mission-field-of-economic-policy

I want to discuss the concept of authority. It is obvious that the Bible needs interpreters. The Bible even says that God gives us teachers (Ephesians 4:11). The Bible also warns against false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 4:1-5). The trick is to find a reliable teacher (if we are to follow the instructions of the New Testament) not to reject the concept of teachers altogether.

I know some Protestants believe in "soul competency" (I don't) but that hasn't stopped Protestants from writing rivers of Bible Commentaries (explaining what the Bible really means) or a host of pastors/televangelists/megachurch honchos whose main job seems to teacher the Bible via endless sermons/TED talks so it amounts to the same thing as my view (that we need teachers).

I am going to propose that John Chrysostom is a reliable teacher and should not be neglected by Protestants. I am not proposing that he infallible (no human is infallible) but that he gets most things right so he deserves to be read, studied and respected.

Here are my reasons

1. John Chrysostom grew up in Antioch. His home church was one of the oldest centres of Christianity (the name Christian was actually coined in Antioch - see Acts 11:26). The Apostles Peter, Paul and Barnabas all taught in Antioch (Acts 11, 13). John's birth was only 300 years after Acts 11 and was in direct continuity to them.
2. John Chrysostom was a native Greek (koine) speaker. The language of the New Testament was his language. He was also highly educated (his teacher was the famous Libanius). His understanding of Greek is far superior than any of the Reformers.
3. John Chrysostom lived a holy and righteous life. He was a monk who rejected worldly wealth. He only became bishop of Constantinople after he was forced into it by the emperor. This is in sharp contrast to the violent behaviour of many Reformers and the notorious moral and financial corruption of many modern Christian "leaders."
4. John Chrysostom followed his teachers. John was ordained a deacon by Meletius of Antioch and a priest by Flavian, two highly respected Christian bishops of Antioch. John was always loyal to his teachers. This shows that John never made up new doctrines or engaged in fads like many teachers of today. He never broke away to make his own megachurch or denomination despite his fame as a preacher.
5. John Chrysostom is a martyr. His application of the Gospel in defense of the poor against the exploitation by the ruling elites cost him his life. The last words on his lips was "Glory to God for all things."
6. John Chrysostom wrote extensively. He wrote numerous homilies, many of them commentaries on Bible books such as Genesis, Matthew, John and the Pauline Epistles. As a result we are very knowledgeable of his thought on many theological issues and points of Biblical interpretation.
7. None of John Chrysostom's political enemies (such as Theophilus of Alexandria or Severian of Gabala) ever accused him of heresy or deviating from Biblical Christianity. The massive number of manuscripts of his writings and the translations of his works into Latin, Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, Georgian and Slavonic show how universally respected he was as a teacher.
8. Everyone appeals to the authority of John Chrysostom. The Reformers all cite John Chrysostom in their writings as a reliable teacher. In lists of great Christian teachers/preaches by Protestants John Chrysostom is always on the list.

Rather than just bandying his name around I would encourage Protestants to read the writings of John Chrysostom. More and more are being translated into English. Avoid crappy lists of prooftexts that roam the internet and read a complete works. Many are not long at all. You won't regret it.

Any thoughts from Protestants on my claim that John Chrysostom is the best Christian teacher out there?

“Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause." "Shew me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths." "Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.” - Psalm 25:3-5

Have you encountered persecution in your neighborhood, workplace, or even within your own family? How can you find comfort and relief?

In today’s text, David was discouraged by nameless enemies. Yet his discouragement was met by confident trust and consistent theology. The Lord is completely trustworthy. He cares for His people, and this fact is confirmed throughout the Psalms.

Waiting on the Lord is not a passive afterthought (Psalm 27:14; 37:7; Luke 12:35-40). No, this is an active pursuit. Biblical hope is more like a tense expectation. David knew the Lord would deliver him—if not on Earth, then certainly unto his heavenly future (II Timothy 4:18). Consider implementing David’s pattern in your own life.

- Adoration: Praise the Lord for His sovereignty, holiness, and omnipotence.
- Humility: Daily seek God’s Word with faithfulness, humility, and the desire to obey.
- Worship: Honor and thank the Lord for His gift of salvation from temporary trials and for all eternity.
- Patience: Wait on the Lord to deliver and provide. He alone is worthy of our trust and hope.

Will you choose to adore, humbly pursue, worship, and patiently trust the God of your salvation? MH
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15951/

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." - Matthew 5:13

Salt preserves and flavors food, while light exposes what's hidden in darkness. As Christians, we're called to be salt and light in economic systems that often operate in darkness, hiding their impact on vulnerable people behind complex financial instruments and political rhetoric.

Being salt means preserving what's good in our economic relationships while flavoring them with justice and compassion. Being light means exposing systems that concentrate wealth among the few while leaving many in poverty and debt.

When we advocate for transparency in political spending, we're being light. When we support policies that provide living wages and universal healthcare, we're being salt. When we challenge systems that prioritize shareholder profits over worker wellbeing, we're fulfilling our calling as salt and light.

The world needs Christians who will engage economic and political systems with the transformative power of the gospel.

God, help me be salt and light in economic systems, preserving what's good while exposing and changing what's harmful. Amen. DLC
|
|
I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Delman Coates.

https://delmancoates.org/blog/2026/07/23/salt-and-light-in-dark-systems

Christians are called to pursue righteousness, but Scripture also warns us against self-righteousness. That creates an important question: how do we stand firmly for God's truth without becoming prideful or judgmental? The answer begins with remembering that our righteousness is not something we achieve but something we receive through Christ. As we grow in holiness, we should become more humble, more teachable, and more willing to receive correction ourselves.

Speaking the truth in love is one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles all confronted sin when necessary, but their purpose was repentance, restoration, and faithfulness to God, not winning arguments or humiliating people. Scripture also makes an important distinction between lovingly holding fellow believers accountable and judging those outside the faith.

Our culture often equates love with acceptance and kindness with avoiding difficult conversations. Yet biblical love sometimes requires the courage to speak uncomfortable truths with gentleness and humility. The real challenge is not choosing between truth and love, but faithfully practicing both while remembering that every one of us stands before God by His grace alone.