"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9Courage is not about feeling fearless. It is about moving forward even when fear is gripping your heart. As John Wayne said, "Courage is being afraid but saddling up anyways." The truth is, every one of us will face things that feel bigg...  Read More

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" – Matthew 4:10The third temptation wasn’t just a test. It was an all-out attempt by the devil to get Jesus to betray His purpose. This time, the devil pulled out all the stops. He took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their g...  Read More

"Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" – Matthew 4:7The second temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness was all about manipulation. The devil took Him to the holy city, set Him on the highest point of the temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On th...  Read More

"But he answered, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" – Matthew 4:4Right after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Forty days and nights of fasting, nothing to eat, nothing to drink. And when Jesus was at His weakest physically, the enemy showed up.The first temptation the ...  Read More

"And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." – Ephesians 6:15Imagine trying to fight a battle on slippery ground with no grip, no stability, and nothing keeping you from losing your footing. That’s what it’s like trying to stand firm without the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. And here’s the thing. The enemy knows how to create unstable ground. He knows ho...  Read More

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." – Hebrews 4:12When it comes to spiritual warfare, the Sword of the Spirit is your only offensive weapon. And what is the Sword of the Spirit? It’s the Word of God. It’s not just a collection o...  Read More