Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials [or temptations], knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3*  1. EMBRACE RESISTANCE TRAINING. I’m going to the gym later today, and I know that resistance training produces muscle. I know that the difficulties of…

Blessed is the person who does not walkin the counsel of the wicked,Nor stand in the path of sinners,Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,And on His Law he meditates day and night.Psalm 1:1-2  STABILIZE YOUR DAY WITH THE BIBLE. Right at…

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b There is extraordinary intentionality behind what God initiated when He said, “Let there be light,” and created us (Genesis 1:3, 27). Then, when Jesus walked the earth, He had a purpose to…

Why are you in despair, O my soul?And why have you become disturbed within me?Hope in God, for I shall again praise HimFor the help of His presence…The help of my countenance and my God.Psalm 42:5, 11 NASB 1995 The author of this psalm asks himself two questions: why are…

Draw me after you and let’s run together!The king has brought me into his chambers. Song of Solomon 1:4 1. DRAWN TO GOD. Song of Solomon is a fascinating book in the Bible about a love story that parallels with both romantic love and the relationship we can have with God. It…

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people. Luke 2:52 This verse describes the progress and increase in Jesus’ life as a young person. We are at our best, and life is most hopeful when we focus on becoming like Jesus and asking what He would…

We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building…

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11  1. YOU HAVE A FUTURE AND A HOPE. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet. He lived during a time of turbulence when…

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one…

Now faith is the turning of dreams into deeds; it is betting your life on the unseen realities. Hebrews 11:1 Cotton Patch Gospel 1. WE HAVE A LIFE OF JOY AND PURPOSE. Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). We are created not just for survival or to have our creature comforts met….