Angry Loss

What does anger cause us to miss? Our frustration, bitterness and resentment can taint our day and cause us to lash out at people, damage relationships and create difficult situations. This response does not convey God’s love, grace or holiness to others. When we respond to life with anger, we miss out on what God […]

Putting Away Malice

When I feel I am treated unjustly, it seems my first reaction is to strike back, to defend myself. But Peter reminds us, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (1 Peter 1:14, NIV).” While we have the Spirit of God within us as followers […]

Preparing for Battle in Times of Peace

The time to prepare for battle is not when the enemy shows up at your door with a million soldiers—twice what you have in your army. In 2 Chronicles 14:9, “Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah.” Asa is King […]

Putting Your Heart and Soul Into It

Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” It is a scripture Jesus quoted when asked what is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). But how do you do that? You start by putting God first in your life, […]

Acquiring a Heart for God

Nehemiah teaches us what it takes to have a heart for God. We can sense his longing to make his desires God’s desires. He is someone we can model after.

#7 Constructing Silence

2022 Countdown of the top ten most viewed posts. This post was first published May 31, 2022. The house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built. – 1 Kings […]

Fighting Back with Prayer

As a follower of Jesus, we need to be aware that we are not just an enemy of Satan. Ephesians 6:10 reminds us that we are a target of the “schemes of the devil (NASB).” We are not just in a one-on-one sword fight with evil, but as believers in Jesus we are the target […]

Mining Wisdom

We often confuse knowledge with wisdom. Acquiring knowledge isn’t bad, but it takes wisdom to know how to apply it. In Job chapter 28, Job has a discourse on the lengths people will go to acquire the treasures of the world: “Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold. […]

Open Your Eyes to God in the Morning

Without this proper orientation toward God at the beginning of the day, we are likely to not see his hand at work in our lives during the day. We are more likely to focus on the bad things that occur and miss opportunities to join God in his work.

The Misunderstood Rich Man

The rich man seemed sincere in his pursuit of eternal life. He seemed to want a heart for God, but he is misguided in his method of obtaining it. Unlike the Pharisees who seem intent on proving Jesus wrong, this man appears to want a heart after God.