From the moment we surrender our lives to Christ, God views us as clean and pure because He sees the righteousness of Jesus in us (Hebrews 10:10). From that day forward, we embark on a Spiritual Growth Journey, growing in our knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. It’s a process that ultimately leads us to become more like Christ. As we grow spiritually, the Holy Spirit strengthens our ability to resist sin by drawing us closer to our... Read more
Hebrews says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see. When we face obstacles or unanswered prayers in our lives, we need to depend on God and His love and ability. 1 John 4:17 tells us we can know and rely on the love God has for us! How do we workout our faith? Faith in God is like a muscle – it needs to be exercised. We exercise our... Read more
Do you find it difficult, at times, to stand firm in your faith? Are you tempted to compromise your integrity under pressure from those you love or admire? Or — are you determined to stay true to yourself, firm in your convictions, and faithful to your Savior, even when it means opposing the crowd? Courage is not gained once and never lost. It’s a daily, hourly, and moment-by-moment choice – an intentional decision. It’s something that grows stronger and easier... Read more
Roadblocks are obstructions that restrict us from traveling on roads we need or desire to go. While External (or physical) Roadblocks can be frustrating and inconvenient. The Roadblocks that are especially destructive are the Internal ones that hinder our personal and spiritual growth. ExternalRoadblocks hinder us in our travels, cause us to be re-routed, detoured, or completely blocked from getting to places we need to go. In much the same way, our Internal Roadblocks hinder us, cause us to be detoured, or completely block our progress. These Roadblocks... Read more
It’s not uncommon to endure seasons of “pruning” when following Christ. Pruning is a time of preparation for greater works, greater fruit, and a greater purpose in Christ. Even fruitful branches are in need of pruning. I was in my third “desert wilderness” journey when I asked God if this was another “Job story” He was taking me through- it had all the earmarks of one. Immediately, I heard in my spirit, “This isn’t a Job story, it’s a pruning... Read more
Leadership involves influence and we all influence others in one way or another. Either for better or for worse. Whether with family, friends, co-workers, or acquaintances, it’s vital we carefully consider our sphere of influence and the type of influence we have on them. So, “Are you a leader worth following?” John Maxwell says, “The most important ingredient of leadership is integrity.” Integrity is the quality of being honest, of having strong moral principles. Integrity is an essential ingredient if we’re... Read more
Hope is the necessary ingredient for thriving. It’s the foundation we need to heal our relationships, undertake challenges, and pursue our God-given dreams. No matter where we live, what job we have, or what background we come from- there’s one thing we all have in common. We all want and need to wake up every morning with HOPE. Hope for the day, hope for the future, and hope that our ambitions and dreams will someday come true. The problem is ––... Read more
I had the privilege of ministering to women in a local jail on a weekly basis. Those precious women had difficult lives and made destructive decisions which ultimately lead to imprisonment. My heart broke for them as they shared their life experiences. As I prayed for them, I wondered if I was really any different? Although I’ve not been physically incarcerated, some decisions I’ve made in my own life have created situations of emotional and spiritual self-imprisonment. Decisions of self-reliance... Read more
Just like we exercise our bodies to stay fit — it’s important to exercise our brains by seeking knowledge and applying it to our lives. “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) When we study the word knowledge in Scripture, we find its root-word, yādaʿ, to know, occurs 944 times in the Bible.[1]The word “knowledge” is found no less than 156 times in the New and Old Testaments and refers to a knowledge... Read more
If you were building a house, you would never start framing until a solid foundation was properly in place. So why not approach your spiritual life with the same care and concern? Without a strong foundation, our houses crumble in severe storms. Similarly, without a solid spiritual foundation, we crumble, sometimes at the mere mention of a storm. Jesus uses this illustration in His sermon on the mount: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,... Read more
Courage for Life
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In