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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world. I John 2:16 ESV Pride is the downfall of many an individual, especially those who have been gifted with extraordinary talents or abilities. The temptation to glory in oneself and one’s accomplishments is almost too strong to avoid. However, there are two sure ways of avoiding self-adulation. One way is to give God the glory for everything. One of the most famous composers of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach, wrote the initials S.D.G. at the end of all his church compositions. Translated from Latin, Soli Deo Gloria, the initials mean “Glory to God Alone.” Though he was unquestionably a musical genius, Bach wasn’t interested in fame or fortune. The second way to avoid becoming prideful is to serve others with a humble heart. Bach was a famous composer but he also taught music to many students. He once told a young student who felt discouraged, “Just practice diligently, and it will go very well. You have five fingers on each hand just as healthy as mine.” Bach believed that music was a blessing from God and that music should be used to glorify God and to edify men and women on the earth. Like Bach, instead of allowing yourself or your work to become the focus of anyone’s adoration, turn all the attention back to God, who gave you the gift in the first place

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 NKJV) There are so many things today that can cause us to worry. There are the worries of the world. There are the worries in our own country, including the threat of terrorism and the threat of North Korea. Then there are personal worries, such as health worries and family worries. It seems as though worries are always there, always closing in on us. But worry isn’t productive. In fact, it’s a failure to trust God. The word worry comes from an Old English term that means “strangle” or “choke.” That is what worry does. It chokes us. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Modern medical research has proven that worry breaks down our resistance to disease. It actually diseases the nervous system, and more specifically, breaks down the digestive organs and the heart. In fact, 79 to 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are stress related. Philippians tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We need to turn our worries into prayer. That requires developing a conditioned reflex. We all have natural reflexes, like when we touch something hot and immediately pull back. Then there’s a conditioned reflex, something that becomes natural after we’ve done it so many times. For instance, standing during the national anthem or placing your hand over your heart during the Pledge of Allegiance is a conditioned reflex. We can’t control our universe, as hard as we may try, but we certainly can pray about it. The next time you’re tempted to worry, pray instead. Turn your worries into prayers.

Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. (Psalm 91:7 NLT) There are so many things we can be afraid of in life. We can be afraid to get on a plane. We can be afraid to drive a car. We can be afraid to do this or that. We can be filled with fear over just about everything. But in Psalm 91, we find this promise for believers: “Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you: (Psalm 91:7). Isn’t that great to know? It isn’t over until it’s over. Until that time, we can go out with boldness, knowing that God is in control of our lives. I read the story of a courageous Christian who was standing before a king who wanted him to deny Christ. The king threatened, “If you don’t do it, I will banish you.” The Christian replied, “You can’t banish me from Christ. He says He will never leave me nor forsake me.” The king said, “I will confiscate your property and take it all from you.” The Christian said, “My treasures are laid up on high; you cannot get them.” “I will kill you,” the king told him. “I have been dead forty years,” the Christian answered. “I have been dead with Christ; dead to the world. My life is hid with Christ in God, and you cannot touch it.” The king said, “What can you do with such a fanatic?” May God give us more Christians who know something of God’s protection like this believer did. However, there is a difference between trusting the Lord and testing the Lord. Don’t take unnecessary chances with your life and expect Him to bail you out. Yes, He will keep us in all of our ways—but our ways should be His ways.

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17–18) It’s been said that worry is the advanced interest we pay on troubles that seldom come. We try to justify worry, of course: “It’s OK for me to worry because I’m in a difficult situation.” In many ways we all are—some more than others. But maybe we all just need to lighten up a little when we can. You might think, “Easy for you to say.” I want you to consider the following words of the apostle Paul, who was writing under adverse circumstances. Paul was under house arrest. There was the possibility that he might be acquitted, or he might be beheaded. He didn’t know what his future held. Yet he gave us some of the most inspiring words found in the pages of Scripture: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:4–6). I love these verses. Paul wasn’t sitting in some ivory tower, spinning up practical theories. He was not lounging on some beach in the Mediterranean, eating a falafel and having an iced tea. This was a man who was incarcerated, yet he was able to say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” By the way, that is a command from God Himself. To put it another way, to not rejoice is disobedience to God. Anyone can rejoice when things are going reasonably well. But when we’re facing adversity or sickness or hardship or death and then we rejoice, we are obeying God. God is on His throne. He loves you and is watching out for you. So rejoice in the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 "For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind." You can't touch my joy. You may have heard that said by someone and wondered what in the world are they meaning. There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is a feeling, and Joy is a perspective, and knowing the difference is wisdom. I know people who are sky high one day and rock bottom the next because they let their feeling dictate their happiness. Then I know people who are going through things that should get them down, but they still seem joyful. They are not screwing on smiles for a public appearance, but understand that the same God that is in the good days is in the bad days as well. Paul praised God from the jail cell and wrote several books of the New Testament. If Paul said, "I'm going to wait until I get out of prison and get my life together before I listen to the Holy Spirit", we would not have much of the New Testament. Wind Chasers As that great theologian, Ariel from The Little Mermaid said… "I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore (You want thingamabobs?I got twenty) But who cares? No big deal I want more" I love the part of our verse that says, "but to the sinner; he has given the business of gathering and collecting." We are all into some hobby that we chase and collect this or that. But I think we all know someone who has taken the art of gathering and collecting to a new level. There's even a show called "Hoarders" about people who want too much stuff. No matter how much this person gathers, they want more. Two guitars are not enough, so I now have 43. Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be."

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25) The world watches with great interest when a Christian faces adversity. Every one of us faces hardship. Every one of us loses loved ones. Every one of us faces sickness. Every one of us encounters difficulties and hardships in life. But when it happens to Christians, nonbelievers watch to see if our faith is genuine. That is the time to show them what Christ can do, even in hard times. Acts 16 tells the story of Paul and Silas, who were thrown into prison for preaching the gospel. Their backs had been ripped open with a whip, and at midnight, in the most unsanitary of conditions, in a filthy environment, with their legs stretched apart in shackles causing excruciating pain, Paul and Silas held a worship service. The Bible tells us that “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (verse 25). Suddenly an earthquake shook the prison, their shackles fell off, the walls came down, and they were free to go. The Philippian jailer, assuming they were free, knew he would be tortured and then put to death. He took out his own sword and was ready to kill himself. But Paul said, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (verse 28). Then the jailer said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (verse 30). Paul and Silas made an impact on him. In the same way, there are people watching you right now. They’re developing an opinion about God on the basis of your life. It has been said that a Christian is an epistle, written by God and read by man. You are the only Bible that some people ever will read. They will be looking at you, and that may determine the course their lives will take.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT) If you want to overcome fear and worry, then you need right thinking. In other words, think about what you think about. We’re told in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (NLT). If you want personal peace, this is where it begins. Why is the mind important? It’s command central. With our minds we reach to the past through memories, and we reach to the future through imagination. We need to learn how to think properly and biblically. As 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (NLT). The next time you’re troubled, you might try talking to yourself. We need to tell ourselves to think biblically, because it doesn’t always come naturally. For example, we see the writer’s despair in Psalm 42: “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” But then the writer continues, “I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (verses 5–6 NLT). Many of the Psalms are songs and prayers. They are honest. And as we read some of them, we may think, “I dare not pray that.” But go ahead and pray that. Go ahead and say, “Lord, I am hurting right now. . . . I’m in pain right now. . . . I don’t understand this right now. . . . I’m struggling with this right now.” The next time you’re feeling down, the next time you think, “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this situation,” quote the Bible to yourself. Remind yourself of the truth of God’s Word. That is what it means to think biblically.

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." situations. Can you imagine the kind of Holy Ninja you’d be with all of the attributes listed in our focus verse? Let’s do a rapid-fire on the attributes of this type of wisdom. Pure - This wisdom is without an agenda. God gives me wisdom on how to handle this business deal or which car should I buy. Pure wisdom is to be able to discern what brings God glory in all situations. Peaceable - If you’ve ever been on social media and seen someone ranting about politics or religion, you would know they don’t have peaceable wisdom. But think of how we would all communicate with each other if we did. Gentle - There are things you know that others do not know due to experience, age, or intellect. It doesn’t mean we have to hold it over them and make them feel inferior. Wisdom with gentleness is a great way to communicate with someone. Reasonable - Wisdom that understands that people need to be talked with and not talked at would make for a great communicator. Full of Mercy - Wisdom that was full of mercy is just what Jesus offered people when he spoke to them. That should be our goal as well. Good Fruits - Wisdom that is full of the fruits of the Spirit would be a great place to lead people to the Good News of Jesus. Impartial - Wisdom that is fair and the center of discipleship (Truth & Grace). Sincere - Wisdom with sincerity sounds like the kind of teacher or advisor that could make a difference in the world. It’s always beautiful to see God define something like wisdom and take it to a place that we couldn’t get to with our earthly eyes. Don’t just seek wisdom, seek Godly Wisdom.

It's an incredible truth: You were strategically placed here, at this time in history, by God for His plans and purposes. He needed someone just like you to love the unlovable - to bring joy to a dark, cold world - to reveal peace in confusing conversations and situations - and to be kind at times when our culture is desolately cruel. God, the Creator of the Universe, needed someone just like you to be constantly optimistic in the face of frustrating circumstances - to hope when there was no reason for hope - and to show patience to obstinate and ornery people. Because God needed you, He created you to reveal His heart. The problem is, as His very own children, we have acquired too many genetic characteristics of the world and have forsaken the lavishly bestowed attributes of God, our loving Father. The problem is, we would rather have it our way than His way. The problem is, we would rather emote a selfish perspective on a situation than to exhibit delightful and delicious fruit. We were created by God to reveal His heart during this singular moment in all of recorded time. We were created to do His good works but instead, we have decided to morph into an emotional counterfeit of who He intended for us to be. God created us because there was a lack of "Godness" on earth, and so He sent you and He sent me. God will only reveal Himself through us to the extent that we allow Him to fill every corner of our hearts and lives. The magnificent and heart-stopping truth is that you can have as much of God as you could possibly want! The question has never changed from the Garden of Eden until today, How much of Him do you want?

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." There are “intellects” out there that scoff at Christians and think we are fools for believing in the Bible (which they call fairy tales). They believe that we check our brains at the door of the church and do not use reason to listen to the Word of God. Our verse tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”. This verse is less about being scared or afraid of God and more about being in awe of Him. Understanding His Holiness and Power should make us pause with respect, and that is the beginning of knowledge. The latter part of our verse tells us, “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I don’t want to stick my head in the sand being a Christian, nor do I want to abandon reason. My God is big enough that He can answer any of my questions, whether they are related to wisdom or doubt. As the verse states, only a fool would dispose of wisdom and instruction, but where do we get God's wisdom and guidance? Does earthly wisdom have an agenda to pull us over to the world's way of thinking? Is its purpose to take our eyes off of Jesus? Knowledge vs. Wisdom There is an apparent difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is merely “knowing,” learning, or understanding facts as they pertain to certain situations. Wisdom, on the other hand, is the ability to apply that knowledge to given situations. Reading from the Bible about topics from our past gives us the knowledge to apply to our future. Using those Holy Directives to our lives for the Glory of God by accepting Jesus as our Savior is wisdom. Many people who have very high IQs cannot understand the Word of God. Some people who can’t read have come to Jesus. The excellent news…you can have your brain back! 1 John 4: 1-2 — "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,"

A powerful way to make sure that your spirit is growing into the most robust part of your inner man is to pray without ceasing. I did not say whine without ceasing - I said pray without ceasing. So many Christians spend their whole lives whining and complaining to the Lord and then they wonder why their prayers are never answered! When you pray, pray with joy! When you pray, come into His presence boldly and with power! When you pray, leave your emotional soul at the door and take your well-fed spirit into the Throne Room and bask in His wonderful presence! God loves you when you whine ... but when you join your spirit with His Spirit in a grand symphony of praise that is the moment that heaven and earth begin to move on your behalf. As Christians, we are not a people group who limits our singing and rejoicing to sunny skies and magnificent circumstances, but we are determined to pray with joy even when our lives are falling apart. It is part of our DNA to come into His presence with thanksgiving regardless of what awaits us outside the door of His presence. The three Hebrew boys worshipped in the fiery furnace! Paul and Silas sang at the midnight hour in prison! Stephen worshipped as he was being stoned! Hannah worshipped when she was not yet pregnant! Join the throng of believers from every generation in history who have chosen to pray with joy.

It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. — J.K. Rowling If you are striving to “please God,” there are a bunch of voices in your head telling you things like this: I should be more sold out for God. I should care more. I need to get on fire. I must buck up, shape up, and tighten up. Yes, it sounds like the mantra of good intentions and spiritual humility. But… There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25) Thankfully, God has provided another route. But we must back up to the intersection where we made the choice to go with the religious crowd in an attempt to please God by our own self effort. At this intersection, another sign points down a different road. It says, “Trusting God.” This road is definitely less worn than the other one, and it seems illogical. If you are uncomfortable with trusting God rather than pleasing God, a bunch of other voices in your head are saying things like this: When do I get to do something for God? Where's the part where I get to prove my sincerity? Where are my guidelines? Where do I get to give God my best? If you overcome those voices and walk this path, you come to another door which says, “Living Out Who God says I Am.” The doorknob reads, “Humility.” It’s a room full of people who are obviously imperfect, full of compromise and struggle—yet they are authentic. They are both laughing and crying—yet underneath any expression is a genuine joy. Yeah, it’s not nearly as orderly and polished as the room filled with those who are trying in their own effort to “please God.” But there is something real about them… and there is a peace that surpasses all comprehension around them. Yes, this group knows who they are in Christ, and they are resting in what He has done for them.

God made you to flourish and to inexhaustibly thrive. He spiritually designed you for emotional and spiritual abundance in every season of your life. His plan was never that you would be shriveled up emotionally and trampled upon by anger and depression and worry. God knew that we would all experience vicious windstorms and the pollution of our culture, but His creative genius provided a way to stay connected to the Vine during all of life's erratic seasonal changes. God's will for you is to flourish in every area of your life and that includes in your emotions! The word "flourish" is a Hebrew word that is rich in meaning and in usage. It always refers to something or someone who is growing by those infamous leaps and bounds. "Flourish" is a word picture of a plant that is destined to grow abundantly regardless of the climate or drought. The Psalmist declares that "the righteous man will flourish like the palm tree." If the Bible uses the word "righteous" to describe a person, it means that this person has willfully chosen to connect himself or herself to God. You will flourish, then, in direct proportion to your connection with God! If you choose to bask in His presence on a daily basis and spend time in the Word and in prayer, your life will be a grand display of the growth that comes from your connection to His righteousness. Many Christians are more connected to the pain of their past than they are to the reality of God's presence on a daily basis. It really does matter to you emotionally whether or not you read your Bible every day. It really does matter to you emotionally whether or not you worship in spite of your disappointment. It really does matter to you emotionally if you pray for those who have been unkind to you. It really does matter. When you choose well, God will cause the growth! You will begin to grow by leaps and bounds both spiritually and emotionally because you are receiving life from God. The fruit of the Spirit will miraculously make you into someone who has the temperament and personality of God. You must work in tandem with God until your emotional responses to the climate around you are the result of your deep and rich connection with Him.

Few delights can equal the presence of the one whom we trust utterly. — George MacDonald Life is filled with little burdens. Lots of them. You know, the details of life like bills and carpools and in-laws. The flesh tells me that God is pleased when I carry the load, that He will help me when I help myself—particularly on the trivial, little stuff. Sure, I know I can trust God to carry the burden on the things that are beyond my ability—like getting me to heaven or curing a child’s cancer… or getting me out of a speeding ticket. But why should I bother Him with the small stuff when He has all these wars and earthquakes to deal with when I can deal with it myself! Another good question. Why exercise faith and trust Him in the little things? Because God evaluates “success” differently than we do. We measure “success” based on what the flesh can produce, whereas God measures success based on the degree of trust we show. Choosing to do things myself is called independence—the exact opposite of moment-by-moment dependence that brings intimacy with God through trusting Him. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Walking in the Spirit is how we have been designed to live as followers of Christ—every day, every moment, through every burden, large or small. This intimate dependency is part of our new identity in Christ!

Open mouth . . . insert foot. Have you ever been there? You started to talk and quickly wished you could stuff the words back in. Or perhaps you’ve been the recipient of someone else’s foot-in-mouth moment. If so, you’ve likely felt the hurt of misspoken words. As we know from James’ instruction to “be quick to listen, slow to speak,” we all have the ability to hit pause. What we don’t have the ability to do is rewind. Once our words are out there, they can’t be taken back. When we’re under pressure, angry, or in a hurry, it can be easy to let the wrong words come out or to say the right words at the wrong time. We're typically quick to speak, slow to listen—the exact opposite of James’ advice! But by pausing before speaking, we put the needs of others ahead of our own. We give them the opportunity to express their opinions or tell their side of the story. Today, look for opportunities to give others the chance to talk first. Rather than listening in order to reply, try James’ advice—flip the script and be “quick to listen, slow to speak” instead.

Here’s something that’s obvious but often overlooked: Everything everyone does makes sense to them. The neighbor you think mows their lawn the wrong way? They don’t agree. That co-worker who offered an opinion that opposed yours? They did so for a reason. We may not understand their motives or actions, but the people around us are operating in ways that make sense to them. When we don’t take time to understand others’ viewpoints, we rush to hasty, destructive conclusions that often manifest in words we later regret: “That makes no sense.” “They’re so stupid.” “How could anyone believe that?” Unfortunately, we often say these things behind the person’s back. We post our opinions online or share them with a friend, not even giving our target the opportunity to respond. That’s not what God intended. Your words are your responsibility. If there’s something you don’t agree with or don’t understand, ask questions. The goal isn’t to align with the other person. The goal is to honor them. You don’t have to agree, but you should maintain a posture of respect.

It’s instinctive for humans to believe in some form of karma – even if we wouldn’t call it that. At some level, we expect that if we work hard, we will do well. Input correlates to output. People get what they deserve. And at some level, that’s true – we live in an ordered universe where actions have consequences, for better and for worse. But of course, in a world disfigured by sin and transfigured by grace, that’s not the whole story. I once heard a noted theologian say: we think the underlying principle of the universe is cause and effect, but it’s actually death and resurrection. We only have so much control over our circumstances and what happens in our lives and in the world. Thankfully, in the economy of a gracious God, this means not only that we struggle and suffer disproportionately to what we may “deserve”, but that we also find ourselves wonderfully blessed beyond our deserts.

It is been my experience that I am rarely able to "fix" the behavior of challenging people in my life. Responding with emotion to difficult people never produces long-lasting change. I believe that perhaps God has placed you in that difficult person's life not to moderate their irregular behavior, but to pray for them. It is a simple equation that God gives us to deal with those irritable and troublesome hunks of humanity: Love + Prayer = Victory. God's strategy rarely involves emotion but always has liberal doses of love and prayer mixed together for a victorious conclusion. God did not create you to be some whirling dervish who uses words to jab, hurt and control people. God created you to be a man or a woman who was more committed to Kingdom than to self. Difficult people can run away from your words, but they can never escape your prayers. We cannot and must not have a disconnect between what we believe and how we treat others, no matter how difficult they may be. There is an anecdote for bitterness and wrath; it's called kindness. There is a way to overcome anger and clamor; it's known as being tenderhearted. There is also a way to conquer slander; it's recognized as forgiveness. It takes a mature, Godly Christian to bless the persecutors in life. We bless with our tongues, with our heart attitudes, with our emotions, and with our actions. Some of you might be thinking, "Yeah, but you don't know my Aunt.....! She is unlovable in every way imaginable!" You may not want to hear my response to your Aunt scenario but here it is, Somebody loves your Aunt and His name is God, so start acting like your Dad! We are all unlovable in some way, aren't we? We all can become prickly, outspoken and contentious from time to time, but I believe that the reason most of us are unlovable is that at our very core we are crying out to be loved. There will be many times in life when your decision to love a porcupine will disarm them completely. If you refuse to forgive and then bless the difficult people in your life, you are in danger of becoming a difficult person. The equation is no-fail and will guarantee your eventual victory:

What exactly is the blahs? This headache of the soul cannot truly be defined as "depression" because you are still able to function if you have been targeted by the blahs. You are still choosing, however lethargically, to place one foot in front of the other. You are still able to interact with people, although your answers are not quite as scintillating or vibrant. You have not retreated into a cave yet although languishing underneath an afghan, a long nap and complete quiet sure are tempting. Every day. All day. You are able to get up every morning, although you only function at half of your potential. You are not depressed, but neither are you joyful or excited about anything at all. Day after day come and go in a vacuum of gray nothingness. You smile now and then but it never goes all the way to your heart. You're get up and go ... got up and went. Somewhere. You are just not sure where it got up and went to! This is your daily game plan and guaranteed life strategy to beat the blahs. Every day that has been generously given to you by the Lord is a new opportunity to manage your day with praise. God gave you this day and designed it especially with you in His mind. He has a plan for you every single day of your life that always includes a liberal dose of praise. If you want the assurance that you are participating in God's will for your life on a daily basis, it is vital that you start your day with praise, that you fill it with worship and that you end it with thanksgiving. From the first moment of consciousness to your last waking thought at night, make it a choice of your will to only magnify the Lord and never question Him. We are not a people who blame the Lord, we are a people who bless the Lord!

Going from A to B. It is a pretty common saying. Wanting to find the quickest and easiest way to get from where you are to where you want to be is something that we have all felt. Whether it is a location-based changed (i.e., wanting to go to a different place), a physical one (i.e., losing weight), or even if it is a knowledge-based growth, we have all wanted to get from A to B. But most of the time, the fastest route is not the one we are meant to take. Each of us has taken different paths in life to get to where we are. What worked for you may not work for me, and vice versa. Let's look at Joseph. We can find the beginning of Joseph's story in Genesis 37. We see that Joseph is loved by his father more than his brothers, and this creates hatred in their hearts towards Joseph. This hatred festers and pushes them to do something that no family member would or should think about doing. They sold him into slavery. From there, Joseph was taken into Egypt where Potiphar, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites. Already being a slave was a terrible event, but even when he was serving Potiphar, he experienced more hardship. Potiphar's wife framed Joseph after he refused to lay with her. This refusal ended with Joseph being thrown in jail. From being loved by his father to being sold into slavery and then thrown in jail, Joseph was probably asking questions. "Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Is this the path I am supposed to take?" Luckily the story doesn't end here. Even in prison, God used Joseph. Years passed, and eventually, Joseph was called out of prison by the Pharoah to interpret his dreams. Joseph was able to read Pharaoh's dreams about the upcoming famine. Because of this, Joseph was able to prepare a system that would help the people not go hungry during the years of famine. Remember, Joseph's brothers? Well, they were in the area that was affected by the famine. They traveled to Egypt to receive food. Now Joseph was able to help them. He would never have been able to assist his family if he had not been on this path. So remember not to be discouraged if the road you are on has some valleys. Sometimes those valley's are necessary to get you where you need to be.

If there is one place that God feels at home, it is in your praises. God sits down, puts up His lovely feet and relaxes when a believer chooses to worship. Conversely, when you throw a tantrum and rant and rave and shout out blame toward heaven, God is uncomfortable dwelling in that place. Our hearts are the dwelling places of God and we must be very careful as we determine the kind of atmosphere that we have created for the Lord to live in. I have learned in so many situations in my life, that the Lord is more interested in my heart then He is in changing my circumstances. Because the cry of my heart is to be more like Him every day, then, I, too, must have greater regard and pay more prayerful attention to what is developing in my heart than what is happening in my circumstances. We ask God to change our circumstances when what He desires is for our circumstances to change us. As a believer, you have a choice to either magnify your pain and your disappointing circumstances or magnify your God in spite of your pain. Some of us talk more about our sadness and distress than we do about the Lord whom we serve. I can always tell by what a woman talks about what she has chosen, either consciously or subconsciously, to magnify. As I meditate on the great men and women of God in the Bible who chose to serve Him and were used significantly at their historical time, there is not one who did not have to deal with disappointment. Esther was an orphan raised by a bachelor uncle and yet God used her to save the entire nation of Jews. Joseph was ridiculed by his brothers and was sold into slavery and yet he rose to second in command in Egypt and strategized to save his countrymen from severe famine. Daniel was kidnapped out of his childhood home and was forced into a den of ravenous, fierce lions and yet God used him as a force for righteousness in Babylon. God is not finished with you yet and He works with His children until He wins! Your disappointment does not have the power to disappoint you but may actually place you in a strategic position to be used by God.

God has not stopped being God because you are in the valley. He has not stopped being a God of goodness and kindness because you are either disappointed or have a broken heart. We would all love to spend our lives on the top of a mountain. We would all love to vigorously breathe in that fresh mountain air and take in the magnificent view. You can see things on the mountaintop that you would never see from the valley. Things take on their rightful perspective from the mountaintop. You are literally on top of the world. It's a place fit for a king - the king of the mountain! None of us wants to buy real estate in the valley of despair and disappointment. There is an extremely limited vision in the lower places and you are not able to see beyond the next grove of trees. And yet it is in the valley where vegetation grows and where flowers bloom. There is no growth on the top of a mountain but you will only find rocks and boulders there. The top of a mountain is no place to put down roots - that happens in the valley below. It is in the valley where the most magnificent growth of your life will happen and it is there that the fruit of the Spirit will grow in lush abundance. May I just say it this way: In the valley where your heart was broken will be the place of your greatest harvest. God wants our cups to run over not only when life is good and the view is spectacular; He wants our cups to run over in the valley of pain and in the desert of brokenness. God sets before you a table of blessing that will heal your broken heart and feed your hungry soul. God wants you to be a man who knows that disappointment does not have the power to disappoint him. God wants you to be a person who snuggles into His presence during times of brokenness and despair. God wants you to be a Christian who never blames but always blesses. God wants you to be a believer who bears fruit at the worst moment of life.

No matter what emotional battle you are facing and fighting today, when you tap into the wisdom of the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, you are guaranteed to win whatever battle you encounter. No longer are you a victim of vicious emotional outrage and sludge but you are more than a conqueror because of Christ's great love for you. God really does have a plan for your daily life and His plan is one of joy, peace and victory. God desperately needs you to conquer your emotional issues because you are an important part of His grander plan at this historical juncture. If you continue to wallow in the blahs, in anger and in depression, the world will be missing out on the gift that you have been created to be. You must never think that you are just a number to God and can get away with flaunting your disappointment and fear in a disproportionate demonstration. You are not merely one of the mass of humanity, but you are a valuable resource who is able to bring significant change at this historic moment. Will you purpose to be the best you possible? Or will you be a warped shadow of humanity who deviates emotionally from the plan of God for his or her life? God needs you! He needs you to be a living demonstration of joy and peace when your world is falling apart. He needs you to be a beautiful masterpiece of righteousness and patience in a culture gone wild. God needs men and women in every generation who will declare, "My life is not about me and my feelings. My life is about serving God and revealing His character to my world!" Will you be remembered for the song of your heart or the screech of your life? We all will leave a legacy that is determined by our daily emotional choices. The emotional and spiritual legacy with which you choose to endow the following generations is more important than the finances, houses or lands that you leave. As you gaze upon the emotional smorgasbord that your culture, your family heritage and your circumstances offer for the substance of your life, never forget that God gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him!

We sometimes need to prove ourselves to ourselves—to discover our capacity, what we do well, and even to reflect on our maturity—to see what God is doing in us. All of this is good. What’s not good is when we try to prove our worth to God or others. Yes, we can impress others with talent and effort. But deep down we want to be valued for who we really are, not primarily for what we can do. Ultimately, we can’t be satisfied by approval from only what we do. Who you are can never be proven by impressing. Who you are is already settled by God. You are a unique creation, made in God’s image, and eternally loved. When you’re trying to prove yourself worthy, you’ve missed the point. God is never impressed with anything you can do apart from what He does in you.

Success is an interesting animal. It can make you opportunity-driven instead of conviction-driven. Then you’re wide open to “succeeding” at becoming someone you never wanted to be! Convictions, on the other hand, get formed away from applause, achievement, and followers. They are about who God has called you to be, what you want your life to be about, the influence you believe God wants you to have. Convictions are also about who you don’t want to be. You’re deciding that your integrity will not be bought, that a larger stage must be the right stage. When you make choices from your convictions, you are deciding the nature of your significance and influence, what you’ll pass on to your children and their children. When you make choices from opportunity, the nature of your significance gets decided for you. A mature friend can help you sort through all this. Convictions can come at any age to radically affect the rest of your journey.

People often ask, “What pillars does Trueface believe are essential to the gospel of grace?” Three things. First, every major religion, except Christianity, is based on performing-for or pleasing their deity. We want you to leave that road of pleasing your deity, and take the road of trusting God, which is how you met Jesus in the first place. Millions of Christ-followers remain on that dead-end road of performing for God. He already performed for you! Second, “humility is trusting God and others with me.” If you act on this, you will begin to believe who God says you are, instead of believing who you say you are. God says you are righteous, holy, and a saint. This changes everything! Third, humility actually attracts (doesn’t earn) God’s grace. Grace alone can overcome your shame, can help you work on annoying true things about you, and nurture authentic environments of grace through your life. So powerful! Applying these three truths will produce hundreds of healing and freeing applications in your life.

When your steering wheel is crooked while driving straight, your car is likely out of alignment. You may learn to compensate for your wonky drive, and do nothing about it. Life is too full of clamoring matters. But, when your tires start rapidly wearing out on one side, you’ll probably give it attention. Now, you’ve cost yourself some real money. Throughout life God will give you gentle signs that yours is sliding out of alignment in a given area. This can range from sleeping, rising, eating, working, resting, engaging and retreating from friends, engaging with God and sharing Him, earning money and saving or giving it. All kinds of areas. Like many, you may think, “I’ll get to this later.” Indeed, “later” comes, but usually with much higher costs. The beautiful joy of living out of your new identity is you can relax. No need for shame-driven defensiveness. Early-on, you can actually accept that this or that area of your life is out of whack. You can enjoy lower-cost, freeing corrections all through your life.

Doing what God wants us to do could seem intimidating, like we’re inviting God to hand us a giant “to-do” list that we could never complete. How many things are there for us to do? Where do we even begin in obeying all of Jesus’ commands? One thing clear from the gospel narratives is that the people did not feel the same way about Jesus as they did the Pharisees. The Pharisees made righteousness complicated and unattainable, and probably undesirable. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus simplified it all, capturing in one sentence the theme of what we are to do: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). This may feel threatening, but consider your day today: you will probably be meeting people of all kinds as you do your job, or take classes, or care for your family, or run errands and deal with general life maintenance and logistics. You may connect with others on social media. And then there are the casual interactions as you go about the business of daily life. In each interaction in your day, how would you desire to be treated? Doing what Jesus wants us to do means that is the way to treat them. Micah 6:8 gives three categories that help us think practically about what we do: treating others fairly and without partiality, showing mercy to those in need, and living in humility before God by not putting ourselves as greater or more important than others. It’s easy to think doing what God wants us to do is mostly about unique or herculean tasks, perhaps in a moment of crisis. But more normally, and thus often missed, is doing what he wants in the mundane and unnoticed moments. These small, daily acts of surrender grow our faith and courage, and prepare us to act as he wants us to when the stakes are higher. It can be as simple as just following through on a commitment, especially when doing so involves sacrifice or personal inconvenience.

Smokey Bear has reminded us for over seventy years that “only you can prevent forest fires.” The damage from just a small spark can lay waste to a beautiful forest and destroy whole communities. Scripture uses the same vocabulary to describe the destructive power of our words: “The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:5) With the potential for such destruction, and also the potential for good that comes from our speech, it’s important to say what Jesus wants us to say, and not just imitate the values of our culture. Our world is filled with speech characterized by hatred, jealousy, condemnation and anger. Jesus gave a principle that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” We can’t avoid the truth; our speech will reveal what is deep down inside of us. How does following Jesus affect what we say each day and why? He is described as “the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He is God’s ultimate communication to his creation. And we are told that “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” As he lives through us, we can expect to be speaking with both grace and truth. Jesus’s life was marked not just by loving and gracious words, but by honest words that reflected truth about himself and the world around him. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told his disciples that when the Holy Spirit came upon them they would experience power to be his witnesses. As we yield to his control, we’ll find that we’ll want to tell others about him. That doesn’t mean we’ll be obnoxious or condescending to others, as some fear. In fact, just the opposite: we’ll be kind and compassionate, telling people who Jesus is and what a difference he has made in our lives. But saying what God wants us to say isn’t just about telling others about Jesus. It is using our words to talk to others the way Jesus would: expressing kindness and forgiveness, and affirming others for who they are and things they do well. In doing so, we bless them and encourage them on their spiritual journey.

In the first chapter of his second letter, Peter gave us several characteristics that we are to add to our faith in Jesus Christ. The first two were goodness – that is our moral excellence, and knowledge – which is living out what we know. The next attribute Peter gives us to add to our faith is self-control. Self-control can be defined as not giving in. Sometimes this applies to sin. We have a choice between sin and holiness and we say, “I am not going to give in to that sin.” Sometimes this doesn’t involve righteousness and sinfulness. We don’t need to have “queso” or dessert at every meal. Maybe it’s about accepting the fact that the alarm clock goes off and I have to get up. Or that I have to go to bed on time. You and I were made for much more than just to feed our natural cravings. So don’t give in to “I am just going to eat like a crazy person. I am just going to sleep.” Because a lack of self-control is going to get you in the end. The next thing Peter mentions is endurance. Watch how these two tie together. Self-control is not giving in, Endurance is not giving up. Those who spend their lives giving in will ultimately be those that give up. The more you give in when it comes to small things, the easier it is to give up when things get hard. We are going to encounter many problems in our lives – sickness, mean people, a bad investment, a wrong decision. That’s just how life goes. We don’t know how God is going to work us through it, but we do need to not give up. We want to be people that are walking with God in such a way that we are saying, “Lord, we want You to refine our desires. Instead of those worldly, fleshly things my neurons say I need right now, what is my heart saying? What do I really need in my soul? What am I really looking for?” One man put it like this: “When a man knocks on the door of a brothel, he is knocking for God.” It means that what he is really looking for is not illicit sex; what he is looking for is a soulful touch in a wrongful way. So if we don’t give in, then we are going to have a better chance of not giving up. Don’t give up. Hang in there. You never know what God has for you.

Every day, every moment, God reaches into your life with His hand of grace to help you through all that you face. It’s His way of saying, “Be assured. I know you are weak, but I am strong. Rest in My power and let My grace take over where your efforts end.” There isn’t anything He can’t do or accomplish through you, so be glad and rejoice in knowing that wherever you lack, He is more than able! Prayer of the day: Father, I love You and trust You. I receive the covering of Your grace and the power of Christ in me today.

It’s so easy to become anxious about all the what-ifs tomorrow may, or may not, bring. But, Jesus says exactly what to do in any given day or circumstance – seek God’s kingdom first and foremost. That means putting both palms up and saying “Okay, God, I trust You and believe that as I live out this day for Your glory and do what You lead me to do, You will provide everything You know I need.” That includes peace of mind that passes all understanding to rule in your heart.

If you ever need to know how to clean, assemble, change, remove, or repair something around your house, YouTube has a great videos for getting help fast. But what about when you need help with your life? There’s only one reliable source for that, and it’s God’s Word. It’s not only alive, it’s been “updated” for your very situation. As you read in faith, God will literally lead you to the exact passage you need for knowing what to do in any situation. It’s no less than miraculous, but then, our God is an awesome God who loves and cares for you!

The one thing most everyone will agree on is that change is certain – change of seasons, change of jobs, change in appearance as you grow older, change of heart as you experience both good and trying times. Some changes are for your benefit, while others test your faith. That is why it’s so assuring to know One who has never changed and never will – Jesus. He is unwavering in His devotion, steadfast in His promises, and eternal in His love. He is the one and only Rock that won’t be moved or manipulated. Ever. Shout all praise to Him!

Is there something you’ve done in your past that is so bad, you are convinced that God would never love you the way He loves other “good” people? Well, dear one, that is the enemy telling you a lie. The instant you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are forgiven, and there is nothing that can separate you from His love! Nothing! The depth and width of the Grand Canyon, or even the distance from earth to the heavens – nothing is too big or too bad to keep you from being His beloved child. Prayer of the day: Thank You, Father, for forgiveness and for Your great love for me!

Have you ever put together a jigsaw puzzle with hundreds of tiny pieces and a detailed picture to recreate? The process can be slow and tedious, and the picture remains incomplete for a long time. The same can be said for your life. Some days or pieces are strenuous, jagged or ugly; some don’t even make sense for what God has called you to do. But He sees the bigger, final picture He created you for. So whatever piece you are living today, know that it has a purpose – God fits each day and experience together to create a beautiful masterpiece in the end. Prayer... Father, even though I don’t understand some things in my life, I know You are in control, and I will trust in Your ways.

Life is filled with battles. We all know this. But what most of us fail to realize is that God provides us with ways to prepare for these battles. We don't have to be caught off guard by the unexpected crises life throws at us. For every battle we face in life, there are ways we can plan and strategize to overcome them. One of the best ways we can prepare for life's toughest battles is through counsel. Not all wisdom needs to come through experience, or through failure; counsel serves as a shortcut to wisdom. Remember The Godfather? The head of the Corleone family never made a decision alone. He always confided in his trusted consigliere, Tom Hagen. Even people with great power, wealth and influence never face something alone. They always bring people they trust and ask for council. Don't face life's battles alone.

One of the fruits of wisdom is credibility. In an era where anyone can use social media to create a platform and voice their thoughts and opinions, credibility has become increasingly valuable. In order for our words to truly have an impact on the world, we need credibility. Credibility comes from integrity which comes from wisdom. This is why Solomon states that fools cannot 'open their mouths in public.’ Because no matter what they say they don't have the credibility for it to have an effect. Don't be a fool. Lead not only with your words but with your actions and example.

Imagine lying in bed at night, wrapped up in your sheets, and replaying the day in your mind – all the things you wished you’d done or said differently. Or maybe your soul is downcast because of an overwhelming problem. You may even wish you could hit replay and start all over. Well, you can! With each new dawn, God’s love and mercies are there waiting for you to soak them in and start anew. Yesterday and its regrets are over, and His faithfulness and love are still burning strong with each new morning.

When you look at and think on the word sinner, there is no good or just thought to put with it – sin is all that is bad. And yet, while all of humanity was full of sin, God in all His humility, goodness, and love poured down His holy oil of grace – Jesus – to remove sin’s effects on all who receive Him. That is pure love. “It is an unseemly sight to see God humbling Himself and man exalting himself; to see a humble Savior and a proud sinner.” –Thomas Watson

Why is it so easy to make fun of people or to enjoy when someone else fails? Does it stem from gratitude that it wasn’t us who messed up, or are our motivations more sinister? I think we can all agree that kicking someone while they’re down isn’t very moral, let alone wise. Grace and compassion are part of wisdom. A wise person extends grace to someone who fails because they know that one day that could be them. Compassion is a hallmark of God’s character. God is always compassionate with us and always patient with our imperfections. Let us be compassionate with others. It’s easy to fall into the trap of tearing people down to make yourself feel bigger or safer, but it is wiser to become the type of person that lifts others up. Remember that one day you will be the person who falls and needs compassion from others!

Sometimes it seems like evil is winning. It feels as if there is more despair in the world than there is hope, more sadness than joy. With every news cycle, it can feel that we are caught up in more ethical and moral crises around the globe. Hope is part of wisdom. In order to live a life of wisdom, we must be able to keep our eyes on the future. A wise person understands that there is more to life than the present hardships. Pain is real, but can’t be prioritized over joy and goodness and friendship and parties and dancing. Remember that evil always has an expiration date, but good is eternal.

How does a wise person approach authority? Respect is an integral part of wisdom. The scriptures are filled with heroes and heroines of the faith that boldly disagreed or resisted against authority figures, but this never led to disrespect. A wise person always honors those who have authority over them, regardless of whether they agree with them or not. We live in a culture where we confuse disagreement with disrespect. Though it may be hard for some to believe, it is possible to love and respect someone while strongly disagreeing with them. A wise person always honors and respects those in authority because they understand two things. The first has to do with empathy; a wise person understands that leadership and authority is a heavy burden. Leadership is a stewardship that you will one day have to give an account for. Secondly, a wise person knows that there will come a time in which he/she will be in a position of leadership and will reap what they have sown in the past. If you were loyal and honorable as a follower you will have honorable and loyal followers when you lead. But, if you are divisive and rebellious as a follower, what kind of followers do you think you will attract when you lead?

As soon as you accept Christ as your personal Savior, His Spirit takes up residence in your heart! He lives there to love, to forgive, and to intercede on your behalf when you pray to God the Father. Your physical body is still alive, but the Spirit of Jesus is in authority to lead and guide you, to speak to you, to give supernatural strength and courage and whatever else you need to live out God’s call on your life. By faith and belief in God’s son, you are no longer living on your own – He is in you!

In John 16:33, when Jesus said “these things” to the apostles, He was foretelling His death and resurrection, and providing assurance for them not to be afraid or worried – He would still be with them (through His Holy Spirit). His death on the cross meant taking on the sin of the world! He overcame Satan’s curse of death on our behalf. Because of this, we are righteous in God’s eyes and have the gift of eternal life with Him. This promise is as true today as it was then, and that is something for which to give all praise and glory. Jesus has overcome!

Seasons of life can sometimes lead to an enormously desolate place. Your compass can break and your hope can get sapped down to its last drop. But when you call upon the Lord and ask for His help, He hears. He promises to lead and guide you in the way you should go. Even better, He will give nourishment and strength for your body, and peace to satisfy your dry, parched soul. So, call on Him, look to Him – He is able and willing to bring you out of any barren wilderness. Keep your eyes on Him and believe in His goodness for you.

Did you by chance get up this morning and think, God is watching me today. As much as He’s got to do in the world, He is watching me! Not from the point of trying to catch you doing something wrong, but because He adores you; watching you is His priority because He loves you. He is not distant or preoccupied with His endless to do lists. He knows your life, your heart, and all that you need, and He’s working now to provide for you to the fullest. How wonderful to know you are not alone, ever. Will you make time to look back at Him? Lord, I feel so special and loved knowing You are watching me as well as watching over me.

When you feel overwhelmed or are struggling about something and you just need to vent or get help, you are most likely to call someone who’s “been there”, right? That person will have the empathy and compassion you need for lifting your heart out of a pit of discouragement. Problem is, your friend might not be available – they may be too busy to take a call, which is even more frustrating. But Jesus is already on the line waiting for you. And He’s been through battles and temptations that brought on the very feelings you are struggling with today. He’s “been there” and He “is there”. So next time, call upon Him!

God – the all-powerful, all-knowing almighty One who created the universe, the stars and planets, and all who have existed since the beginning of time – is a personal God. He created you because He loves you and wants fellowship with you. All you have to do is draw near to Him and, no, He doesn’t stand back and wait for you to reach out to Him. When He sees you drawing near, He approaches you in unison. He moves toward you to embrace you with His big and welcoming arms. All you have to do is still your heart and make your move. He is waiting. Lord, I think of that song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and feel warm in knowing that You are so very close to me as a friend. I love You and want nothing more right now than to be still in Your arms.

Father, I long to bask in Your peace – it is peace like no other. Drown out all the noise around me and fill me now with Your great peace.