Don’t expect your faith to grow if you have too much else going on. For the number one way God speaks is through His Word. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful…correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way” (2 Timothy 3:16).… Read the rest
Biblical illiteracy is plaguing the church. God’s people are just ignorant of His Truth. For example, one of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible is, “God helps those who help themselves” – and the fact is, it’s not even in there. “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,” the Psalmist wrote, “and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). It’s crazy to think that in today’s world a child cannot read their Bible in school, but they can in prison.… Read the rest
If we want to hear God’s voice, then we must separate ourselves from the world. “Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of world, or join those who have no use for God” (Psalm 1:1). Paul tells us that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). The Christian life begins when we step away from the world and step toward His Word.… Read the rest
Pride is a big deal. The enemy knows that if he can get us to trust in our own efforts, it keeps us from trusting in Christ – and why Solomon writes, “Pride will land you flat on your face” (Proverbs 29:23).… Read the rest
“Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are NEVER satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20). A recent poll revealed that the average child, from birth through high school, will watch 18,000 hours of TV – that’s roughly two full years of television. My friends, our eyes have appetites, and it’s where all our thoughts begin. Guard your eyes.… Read the rest
Jackson Brown, Jr., an American author, once wrote, “I’ve learned that if you give a pig and a boy everything they want, you’ll get a GOOD pig and a BAD boy.” This is why John tells us to not “love the world’s ways or the world’s goods. For the love of the world squeezes out our love for the Father” (1 John 2:15-16). Satan will use all kinds of things to amuse our eyes because he knows that the eyes are the lamp to the body. Thus, if he can get us to glance, he will eventually get us to gaze, and our bodies will follow.… Read the rest
When our roots go down in Him, His fruit will grow up in us. And the key is to stay below the soils of life rather than attempt to produce fruit above it. “Those who remain in Me…will produce much fruit” (John 15:5).… Read the rest
Every time we feel stepped on and get hurt, we have one of two options: stay broken before God or build walls of defense. Just remember that in a bitter soul God’s seed cannot grow. This is why Paul tells us to “Get rid of all bitterness…” (Ephesians 4:31).… Read the rest
“It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth” (Matthew 4:4). When our roots go down into Him, His fruit will always grow up in our lives. Solomon tells us that “the godly have deep roots” (Proverbs 12:3).… Read the rest
“A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing” (Martin Luther).… Read the rest
The Bible tells us, “Keep a sharp eye out for weed…a thistle or two…can ruin a whole garden. Watch out…don’t trade away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite” (Hebrews 12:15). We have to remove any and all distractions that would keep us from God’s Word.… Read the rest
One of the great principles in life is whatever you eat will always come out in the end. Paul wrote, “What a person plants, he will harvest…” (Galatians 6:7). Give high intention, then, to what you choose to feed on when it comes to your spiritual growth.… Read the rest
God never intended our lives to be artificial or rotten. He purposed us to be the real stuff – fruit that nourishes the body and can reproduce itself because of the seed that lies within. “Remain in Me – and I in you – you WILL produce fruit” (John 15:5).… Read the rest
“Remodeling the heart is not always pleasant. We don’t object when the Carpenter adds a few shelves, but He’s been known to gut the entire west wing. He has such high aspirations for you. God envisions a complete restoration. He won’t stop until He is finished” (Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus). And He won’t be finished until we have been shaped “along the…lines…of His Son” (Romans 8:29).… Read the rest
“God loves to decorate. Let him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s tear untouched” (Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus). It’s not enough for Him to own you; He wants to change you.… Read the rest
Our natural tendency when we feel walked on is to build up walls. No one likes to get hurt, and we will pay a great price to ensure we are not. But God calls us to stay broken and open to Him, especially since that price was already paid by Him. Forgive. Let things go. You will never regret it.… Read the rest
The true God-centered people of God will always reproduce the nature of Him in their worlds around them. Fruit happens (this should be a bumper sticker). But the fact is, as we deepen our faith in God, fruit will develop on the branches of our lives. It’s just the natural by-product of His presence within us. “When you’re joined with Me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing” (John 15:5).… Read the rest
“The natural condition for human life is shared rootedness in one another. Just like a tree is rooted in the earth and where it gets nourishment, human beings were created to be rooted in the hearts of other human beings. The very assurance that somebody loves me, is for me, pays attention to me, and watches over me, is the indispensable condition of a healthy, stable life. Our well-being depends on it” (Dallas Willard).… Read the rest
No matter what’s going on, no matter what the world may suggest, no matter where the winds might blow, may we bow to no other but God. Paul writes, “Stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). As the ageless hymn so powerfully states, “All other ground is sinking sand.”… Read the rest
“In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). What an incredible promise to those who want to know, and do, God’s will in every area of their lives. He is EAGER to reveal Himself. It’s His nature.… Read the rest
“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Solomon is not suggesting that we surrender our ability to think, just that we understand that in the end, God gets the last word. The late E.V. Hill once said, “Do everything you can as if there’s no God. But once you’ve done everything you can do, trust as if there’s ONLY God.”… Read the rest
“God rewards those who seek Him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus Himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus” (Max Lucado).… Read the rest
The greater the intimacy we have in God, the greater the awe we will have of God. Paul tells us that “no one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it – what God has arranged for those who LOVE Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). If we would make God our wonder, it’s promised that we would see the wonders of our God.… Read the rest
Arsene Houssaye wrote, “Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.” The Scriptures tell us that the mouth speaks that which is in our hearts. We could say in reverse, ‘what lies in our hearts, our mouths will speak.’ As Jesus said, “All who love Me will do what I say” (John 14:23). So check your heart – it says a lot.… Read the rest
Charles Spurgeon stated, “If God does not save a man by truth, He certainly will not save them by lies. And if the old gospel is not competent to work a revival, then let’s do without the revival; we will keep to the old truth, no matter, come what may.” While we can do great things without God, we just can’t do anything eternal.… Read the rest