An Experience Versus an Encounter
People who are spiritual leaders can look and act in very different ways because God made his people with enormous variety — we’re called the body of Christ for a good reason — but they will all share certain qualities. All spiritual leaders also have the same starting point, and this is key because the…
The Depth of God’s Love
Paul describes the love of God as wide, long, high and deep. “That you…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19, NKJV). I…
Right Song, Wrong Side
When the children of Israel went through times of testing, were they really supposed to express gratitude and thanksgiving in the middle of them? When they were surrounded and in a hopeless situation, did God really expect them to have that kind of reaction? Yes, absolutely! That was the secret to getting out of their…
Acknowledging Our Helplessness
One of the most important verses in scripture is in the apostle Peter’s first letter. He speaks of the necessity of having our faith tested. “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the…
Sufficiency in All Things
Why do so many believers experience weakness, despair and emptiness, as if they can’t go on? It is because they do not have the understanding that the Spirit gave Paul. They do not see all the provisions God has made possible for those who would claim them by faith! Do you fit Paul’s description of…
Finding Well-Being in Community
What is well-being? Can it be achieved by simply taking care of oneself? Not entirely. True well-being includes relational love, intimacy and connection with people. You cannot have well-being on your own. There are more than fifty Bible verses that talk about loving and cherishing and caring for one another. Give to one another. Put…
What Holds Us Down
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV). The Lord desires to bestow his favor and blessing upon you to lift you above what limits you, so that you…
Claiming the Power that Is in Christ
As Jesus spent his last hours with his disciples, he said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 16:23, NKJV). Immediately following this, he told them, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that…
Spiritual Strength and Trust
The Holy Spirit gives us strength when we release all our needs into God’s hands and trust in his might. Ruth is an example of this kind of trust. After her husband died, Ruth lived with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi was concerned about Ruth’s welfare and future, so she advised Ruth to lie down at…
Imagine the 41st Day!
Suppose you came upon Jesus on day forty-one immediately following his temptation in the wilderness. His face is shining. He’s rejoicing, praising the Father, because he’s won a great victory. You see Jesus exuding life and confidence. Now he’s ready to face the powers of hell, so he sets off boldly for the great cities…