-
·
The Words “I Love You”, What They Really Mean
Every living person with a logical mind and a compassionate heart understands the importance of those three simple but life-changing words, “I love you.” Yet, in a world that’s moving at an incredibly fast pace, people often say “I love you” without fully considering what those words mean. Of course, it’s something we say to…
-
·
Under A Basket or On A Stand
More than any other time of the year, Christmas is meant to celebrate and demonstrate our gratitude to God for the birth and life of Jesus Christ. It should be a time of reflection, hope, and giving in a way that shows God’s love. It’s truly a precious season, but for those who are single…
-
·
Braced for Impact
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you’ve probably heard the phrase “brace for impact” from the flight attendants. It’s a serious warning that tells you everything you would need to know in order to prepare for a potential crash or rough landing. The intent is that, in moments of extreme turbulence, you will need…
-
·
The Enemy Thought He Had Me
From the very beginning, the enemy thought he had won when he tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit—the very act God had warned Adam not to do. What the enemy didn’t realize is that even in that moment when it seemed like Adam was defeated, God already had a plan in place. God’s plan…
-
·
The Warfare of Lack
One of the toughest battles we face in life is the warfare of lack. It’s that constant struggle where we feel like we never have enough—whether it’s money, time, energy, or even peace of mind. The more we try to catch up, the further behind we seem to fall. Emotionally and physically, it can be…
-
·
Listen to the Lord
“Life is a trip!” If you’re like me, you’ve heard many people make this statement, and if we’re honest, we’d have to agree that, yes, indeed it is. To say that life is unpredictable is an understatement. One minute you may be at the pinnacle of joy and comfort, but the very next moment can…
-
·
Be Clear About Your Desires
When you’re praying and making requests before God, it’s important to be specific about what you’re asking for. Being specific demonstrates that you’ve thoughtfully considered your desires and are mindful of what you truly need. Sometimes we ask God for blessings that might not be the best for our lives, requiring time, effort, and other…
-
·
Hearing and Following the Holy Spirit’s Guidance
Hearing the voice of the Lord is essential in our walk with Him. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, God has placed His Holy Spirit in us, and the Holy Spirit interacts directly with our human spirit. Romans 8:16 (NLT) tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are…
-
·
Righting the Wrongs of Our Pasts
Dealing with the mistakes and regrets of our past is something that’s on a lot of our minds. We all carry memories of moments we wish we could relive differently—whether it’s relationships that didn’t turn out as we hoped, opportunities we let slip through our fingers, or decisions we look back on with regret. These…
-
·
When We Put Our Trust in God
In John 3, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, converses with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, possibly seeking a discreet conversation due to his position, as he is seeking a deeper understanding of Jesus’s teachings. Jesus responds with profound truths about spiritual rebirth…
-
·
A Love Built on God’s Standards
“I know exactly what I want from a man, and I want a relationship on my own terms. I think I deserve that.” My friend made this declaration as if it were her greatest epiphany. For those of us who know her well, reconciling this bold proclamation with the on-again, off-again relationship she’s been entangled…
-
·
Deny Yourself
Jesus Christ stated in Luke 9:23-24 (ESV), “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” These verses offer profound insight into what it truly…
-
·
God’s Healing Power
Years ago, after Leslie’s painful divorce, she made a solemn promise to herself and to the Lord that she would prioritize her relationship with Him above all else. Her marriage had been tumultuous from the start. After enlisting, the man she longed to marry, Jeffrey, didn’t return to their hometown after completing his military service.…
-
·
Embracing God’s Purpose-the Path to Fulfillment and Joy
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) tells us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” This verse emphasizes our Heavenly Father’s purpose for our lives—to reflect the likeness of Jesus Christ in every possible way. Each encounter, experience, and…
-
·
Because of Your Little Faith
In Matthew 17:20 (NLT), Jesus is speaking to his disciples after they were unable to heal a boy possessed by a demon. This conversation occurred when a man brought his son, who was suffering from epileptic seizures caused by a demon, to Jesus for healing. The disciples attempted to cast out the demon but were…
-
·
Faith in Action
Faith Brings Down Walls Hebrews 11:30 (NLT) tells us, “It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.” Jericho’s gates were locked tight, its walls built thick to keep out intruders, but God had already promised His people a land flowing with milk…
-
·
The Prayers of the Righteous Accomplishes Much
Genesis 19:29 (NLT) “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” We are truly blessed to have individuals in our lives who serve as vessels through which God’s blessings flow. These people…
-
·
The Test of Endurance
Accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is not a small matter. People have lists of things that are important to them, but the most important decision that any human being can make is to accept Christ and receive the salvation he offers. The Book of Revelation hits this home in a very real…
-
·
Limits and Boundaries Keep You from Stumbling
In His matchless Word, our Heavenly Father has set limits and boundaries for our actions, attitudes, behaviors, and thoughts because He wants us to prosper and have a successful life. He requires us, His children, to be disciplined in our conduct and living because this is the way His love operates. 2Timothy 1:7(NLT) tells us,…
-
·
Increasing Your Faith
Whenever we have a recurring prayer request, and we’re not seeing the kind of movement we expected, it can be very disappointing. The most common piece of counsel and advice we receive about this is that our faith needs to be increased. People will point to the wisdom of Hebrews 11:6(NLT) as their reasoning for…
-
·
Lost Opportunities
“I don’t want to miss my blessing.” How many times have we heard one of our brothers and sisters in Christ make that statement? On the positive side, they understand that God in His sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence, is the only One that can bless us, that He alone holds our tomorrows and futures in…
-
·
Come Out of Hiding
As we move through our day-to-day lives, we’re occupied with whatever life throws at us. Whether it’s work, recreation, worship, or family, some of us wear all the different hats and seem to do so effortlessly. The people we know and love expect certain things from us, and we’ve learned over time to meet their…
-
·
Where Our Faith Must Be
Our failure to receive God’s provision is probably the greatest issue among most believers that are waiting year after year for the manifestation of a blessing. When we’re sold out to our faith in Him, we know there’s no such thing as God withholding His blessings from us, and there is no such thing as…
-
·
Sow into God’s Kingdom
Galatians 6:7-8(NLT) “7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” My…
-
·
Setting Boundaries That Preserve Your Peace
Our Heavenly Father has secured our salvation through the sacrifice of our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9(NLT) says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may…
-
·
What Has God Called You to Do?
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:30(NLT), “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” This verse communicates the degree to which our Heavenly Father knows everything there is to know about us. He has all knowledge about all things, and all people; you’re included in that number. There’s no detail about your life…
-
·
Praying for Someone’s Salvation
James 2:26 tells us that just as the body is dead without breath, faith is dead without good works. This verse is phenomenally important for anyone who desires to please God, but it is also equally important for those of us with a great desire in our hearts. Hebrews 11:1(NLT) says, “Faith is the confidence…
-
·
Don’t Let Anger Control You
Ephesians 4:26-27(NLT) “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Grace and her sister have had a contentious relationship since they were young. Fighting weekly was the norm for them. Their parents saw it as sibling rivalry and…
-
·
A Restored Home
Proverbs 21:9(NIV) “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” There’s a saying that many husbands have heard and repeated, “happy wife, happy life!” By this, they are conveying a submission to the will and happiness of their wives. They understand the value of having peace…
-
·
Stretch to Take Hold of the Promise
Genesis 18 tells us that three men came to visit Abraham. This record suggests that he recognized they were not ordinary men, because he ran to meet them and bowed himself to the ground before the leader of the three. He then offered them hospitality, as was customary during the time in which he lived.…