On the Verge of Giving Up
Today, I was impressed to speak to those who are emotionally and intellectually bending beneath a burden too heavy to bear. The promises of God do not seem to be working for you or your family. You have tried to please God; you pray; you truly love him, but you are right now at the…
The Way Out of Despair
I have known of great Christians who have experienced a trial so dark and deep that life itself seemed almost not worth living. In his very darkest hour, Jeremiah discovered a glorious truth that brought new hope and assurance to his mind. It was something he already knew about God, but it hadn’t touched his…
Having the Mind of Christ
The soul, most experts say, is your mind, emotions and will. You could also take it as thoughts, feelings and actions. A lot of Christians will hear a sermon that says, “Act like this”, so they’ll try to change their behavior. However, their thoughts and feelings are not on the same track. This is what…
The Beam in Our Own Eye
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the…
Hate Life to Find It
The key to abundant life is found in one seemingly insignificant and confusing verse. “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25, NKJV). This is God’s challenge to our small world! Understanding what he means here is the…
He Understands Completely
I take great comfort in knowing that my Savior understands my feelings. He relates to all I am experiencing. He truly understands every feeling and never condemns me for suffering attacks from the enemy. Instead, he tells me to hold on and not to be afraid. He lets me know he too is familiar with…
God Has Not Forgotten You
God has not forgotten you! He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through right now. He is monitoring every step along your path, but we are just like the children of Israel who doubted God’s daily care for them, even though prophets were sent to deliver wonderful promises from heaven. We…
Let This Mind Be in You
Paul exhorted the people of God, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV). The apostle was saying, “Let the mind that is in Christ — the very thinking of Jesus — be your thinking also. His mindset is the one we all are to seek.” What does…
Holiness and Wholeness
I grew up in what would later be considered the Holiness Movement. My grandfather was a holiness preacher. He used to take a tent and travel all around the United States, preaching about hellfire and brimstone. “Live a holy life, or you won’t see the Lord.” I understood holiness in the sense of “I want…
The Life Is Not in the Shell
These mortal bodies of ours are but mere shells. The shell is not for keeping but a temporary confine that enshrouds an ever-growing, ever-maturing life force. The body is a shell that acts as a transient guardian of the life inside. The shell is synthetic in comparison to the eternal life it clothes. This is…