Sometimes my mind is like a nonstop whirlwind of audacious ideas, nagging reminders, and unfortunate regrets. While my brain is on overdrive of varying thoughts, I lack clarity on what it is exactly that I need to do and am unsure of what to do next.
If you undertake a massive project, you must create some reasonable steps along the way. If you don’t, you will get overwhelmed with the immensity and never make any progress.
Jesus taught that before you build a tower or wage a war, you better count the cost. When it comes to tackling a major project, like planning sermon series one year at a time, you have to put together a plan that is workable and scalable.
Each of us experiences temptation throughout our lives. We have an intentional enemy who knows where, when, and how to attack us in vulnerable areas of weakness. Ignoring his tactics will not make you impervious to personal setbacks.
Your past doesn’t have to define you. The mistakes you have made or those that others made and caused you to suffer consequences don’t have to determine your future. But to avoid that, you must consider how you must pivot as a result.
Your closest relationships will direct your most pivotal decisions. That’s why it is so important to consider the type of people you give the right to speak into your life. Have you ever considered how your relationships are encouraging you?
You can’t make it far in life without having wise guides pointing out good directions on uncertain paths. I pray you have had parents, pastors, coaches, teachers, and bosses who have guided you, but are you following their instructions?
Good, bad, or indifferent, we all have learned lessons from our parents. Yours might have been intentional or even estranged, but you can’t deny that their life has made an impact. Have you ever considered what to do with what you’ve learned?
We have all faced the looming decision that increased our anxiety. When we have to make the call, our values will come to the forefront without warning. So, before you make that next decision, have you ever considered what God desires you to do?
Any event that you make it to in your life is one you put on a calendar. If you want to know Jesus better, you must make the time.
We often see friendships as a benefit but rarely a necessity. The reality is that we were not meant to live life alone.
It’s that time of year when camp is happening, and many students are praying that the change lasts this time. If you or your student ministry is growing in Christ, it doesn’t have to stop once you go home.
Most aspiring individuals attempt to exalt themselves into higher positions of leadership. Jesus breaks the common paradigm by teaching that the humble wait to be exalted.
Many of us struggle with a poor image of ourselves because we live in a culture that constantly showcases everyone’s filtered, glamorous snapshots of what seems to be perfect lives. It’s dangerous for our souls.
Many of the teenagers in our churches aren’t pursuing Christ passionately because we have not expected them to do so. Instead of lowering expectations, we ought to expect sincere followers of Jesus.
We are often unable to enjoy God’s gift of relationships now due to disappointments from failed connections in the past. If we are not careful, past letdowns will rob us of present possibilities. We must deal with the pain and not continue to overlook it.
In our age of pseudo-community provided by digital technology, we are missing out on the connection we were designed to meet and need. If you struggle to find your footing right now, it may be because you aren’t standing beside others.
If we want our lives to inspire others, we not only need to provide motivation but also clarification. We must learn to teach others simply so that they know what needs to be done next, among a host of options.
If we do something well, we ought to do it not to be flashy, but because we want to be faithful to whatever God has called us to do. We are working for Jesus on behalf of the people for whom He died, so we should give our absolute best.
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ implies that you ought to be thinking of how your life can impact others. We must have a next man and next woman up type of mentality.
It’s hard to help others out in life if you give off an aura that you don’t want to be bothered by them. Christians ought to have the most open-hearted attitude toward others.
If you desire to live life according to Jesus, you can’t ignore His book. The Bible has to be more than an honorable mention in your life to be a disciple of Jesus. All of your beliefs and behaviors must originate from the instructions in the Bible.
If you have ever wanted to simplify your organization but are unsure of where to start, I want to help. It’s a biblical ambition to live your life wisely, but we all need practical help to know where to start. Maybe these considerations can encourage change.
While we have plenty of examples of ambitious people eager to succeed for all the wrong reasons, that shouldn’t discourage you from being ambitious for godly motivations. Desiring to make your life count for God is as noble a motivator as possible.
If you are like me, there are days when I feel like my life is spinning out of control. There are so many expectations, and I sometimes struggle to do the bare minimum, let alone what I desire to get to do. If you feel like me, decide to make some changes.
As much of the world pauses this week to remember Jesus’ death on the cross and celebrate His resurrection from the tomb, have you ever considered how to best prepare? Following these simple steps can help you grow and reach others this week.
You remember that situation you never thought you would survive? Well, you did. You are still standing today. And part of that reasoning is so you can help others who have fallen down in similar situations.
The average Christian would admit to having little to no counseling training or experience, but that doesn’t mean that you couldn’t provide helpful counsel. Even if lacking in expertise, you can take some simple steps to help others continue through trials.
We often pray that God would use people to reach our family and friends, but what God wants to answer that prayer request by sending us? You have a relationship with people who need to have a relationship with Jesus. Starting is not as difficult as you think.
While you might be prone to wander in certain ways, you are most likely more susceptible to temptation in particular places and at specific times. You’ve got to evaluate your habits to find victory against temptation.
There’s nothing wrong with how God made you. This world will tell you that your insecurities reveal that you need a change, but what you actually require is sacred contentment as you acknowledge God’s blueprint.
Each of us has varying levels of fear of saying the wrong things, so much so that we can become mute, unwilling to speak at all. Instead of trying to find something clever to say, base your speech on God’s truth.
No matter how much progress you make in life, there will always be those telling you how far you still have to go. Fear of others immobilizes us. We must learn to listen to God’s perspective on us over our critics.
When we focus on our perceived inabilities, we miss the opportunity to watch God work through us. To remedy our immobility, we must focus on what He can do rather than obsessing about what we cannot.
We often contrive neat and tidy ways in which we expect the Lord to work, but He often surprises us. Instead of growing frustrated with these turns, have you considered that maybe He is bringing together a better plan than your own? It’s time to go the second mile in embracing God’s unexpected plans.
Were we designed intentionally, or did we appear accidentally? That debate has been going on for quite some time. Nowadays, the more intense disagreement arises from not if we were made but how we were made. What does the image of God mean?
While the enemy’s tactics are time-tested and successful throughout many lives, we don’t have to surrender. We don’t have to live defeated. We must engage in the battle.
Spiritual warfare is one of those topics we mention in church, but we rarely unpack it to our detriment. A battle is going on; just because you fail to acknowledge it does not mean you are immune to it.
It’s a new year that guarantees exciting opportunities and unexpected challenges. To ensure your life is heading in the right direction, it’s appropriate to evaluate your headings right now. More than making resolutions, we need to make changes.
In the Book of Exodus, we discover a relentless God who will do whatever it takes to redeem hopeless people in inescapable bondage. God delivers us so profoundly that we should devote our lives wholeheartedly to Him.