Posts with the tag “growth”

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'" – 1 Corinthians 15:33What would it look like to make a one-degree change today? Not trying to be perfect overnight, but just aiming to be one degree better than yesterday. It’s about making progress daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, how do you do that? You have to mind the gap.Your choices have to be different. Your circles have to be...  Read More

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." - Hebrews 12:1-2 David couldn’t wear Saul’s armor because it wasn’t made for him. But it wasn’t just about the armor, it was about the path God had chosen for David. Saul’s journey and David’s journey were never meant to look the same. God had a destiny for each of them, and David ...  Read More

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14    We’ve all been there. You make a mistake, and the first thing you want is a “do-over,” to go back and undo whatever went wrong. You replay the ...  Read More

"But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31    Waiting is never easy. When we find ourselves in a season of waiting on God, it’s natural to focus on the end of the waiting period and how much longer it will last. We may become preoccupied with the timing and ...  Read More

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" – Psalm 27:14   We all know the moments when life throws us a curveball, the breaking news that changes everything. It could be a diagnosis, a job loss, or a relationship that crumbles. In those moments, emotions flood in: fear, sadness, anger, confusion.  Then, after the initial shock fades, our thoughts usually t...  Read More

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35    We often hear that when you give, God will bless you. And for many of us, we may naturally assume this means a material blessing or a return on what we've given. But what if God’s blessings go deeper than that? What if, in the act of freely giving, God wants to teach you something that is far more valuable than anything you could receiv...  Read More

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."- James 1:2-3   Adverse situations are an inevitable part of life. The Bible does not shy away from this truth but instead provides us with profound guidance on how to navigate these challenges with faith and resilience. God’s Word offers us wisdom, encourageme...  Read More

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4   Life often throws us into the midst of storms. Sometimes it feels like the waves are crashing against us from every direction, le...  Read More

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! - Psalm 139:23-24   Have you ever stopped to consider the condition of your own heart? It's easy to go through life without truly examining our innermost thoughts, desires, and motivations. But the truth is, our hearts can be deceitful, leading us astray...  Read More

 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5   Wisdom is a precious gift—one that Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, recognized as essential for navigating life's complexities. In 1 Kings 3, we read how Solomon humbly approached God, asking not for riches or power, but for wisdom to govern His people with dis...  Read More

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." - Matthew 7:3-5   It's a co...  Read More

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18    Life is a journey of growth, of transformation, of becoming more like Christ with each passing day. But here's the thing: that journey never ends. As long as we're on this earth, God is always at w...  Read More

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-3   Pain is a part of life. It’s a painful truth, isn't it? Whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all experience pain in one form or another. And in those moments, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, even de...  Read More

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-3   Pain is a part of life. It’s a painful truth, isn't it? Whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all experience pain in one form or another. And in those moments, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, even de...  Read More

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." - Psalm 23:1-3   In a world obsessed with platforms and popularity, it's easy to chase after success without considering the importance of the process. We desire elevation without cultivation, seeking influence and recognition without understanding the necessity...  Read More

 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6   The journey of faith is not a pursuit of perfection, but rather a path of progress. As followers of Christ, we strive to be like Him, to grow in love, and to live according to His teachings. Yet, we must remember that we will never achieve absolute perf...  Read More

"Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:4   Life presents us with a series of challenges and trials, each an opportunity for growth and transformation. James 1:4 implores us to "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This process of maturity and completeness can be hindered w...  Read More

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." - Isaiah 48:10   Life's trials often feel like a relentless inferno, where our hopes, dreams, and faith are tested in the searing heat. Yet, just as gold is refined in the fire, we, too, are refined through trials. In Isaiah 48:10, God reassures us, saying, "See, I have refined you, though not as silve...  Read More

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19   Life is full of pivotal moments—decisions that shape our path and influence our future. It only takes one decision to turn your life completely around. Such decisions offer us the opportunity for ne...  Read More

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18   Sometimes, we may find ourselves going through challenging seasons of change and growth, wondering why God is leading us through such transformations. In these moments, it's essential to challenge o...  Read More

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)   Imagine your life as a sophisticated software program, designed for remarkable purposes. Just like software, we sometimes encounter limitations or glitches that prevent us from functioning at our full potential. Just as software needs regular updates, our lives often requ...  Read More

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will." - Romans 12:2 (NIV)   If you desire God to take you to the next level in your spiritual journey, be willing to allow Him to change your thinking. Our minds are powerful battlegrounds, and God's transformati...  Read More

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14 (NIV)   Are you living the life God has called you to? Have you fully embraced your purpose and are you maximizing your potential in Him? These questions invite us to reflect honestly on our lives and challenge us to live in alignment with the calling God has placed upon us. God...  Read More

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) - "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."   Trusting God requires us to step out of our comfort zones. It beckons us to venture into the unknown, to embrace change, and to believe that God has something extraordinary in store for us. Stepping beyond comfort is not merely a challen...  Read More

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1   As we discussed yesterday, everything in your life happens for a reason. There is no coincidence. When you are a believer, God is watching over your entire life. And in everything that happens, He is either orchestrating or allowing the situations and circumstances you find yourself in.  This can be en...  Read More

“The man who does not give up when tests come is happy. After the test is over, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this to those who love Him.” - James 1:12   We have spent the last few days talking about the situations, circumstances, and people God either allows or intentionally places in your life for whatever purpose He might want. What we know by now is that, with God, nothin...  Read More

“So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish. Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days.” - Ephesians 5:15-16   Over the last two days, we have unpacked the myth that there is such a thing as “luck,” “coincidence,” or “happenstance.” When it comes to God, these words just aren’t in play. He is intentional and has a purpose for all that He does. Proverbs 16:33 t...  Read More

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:25-26).Time is one of the greatest mysteries God ever made. He lives outside of it, yet we somehow live our lives in it. We can’t see it, but we rely on it daily. It’s how we make our plans and how we create goals. It’s how we wake up, cook, work, and...  Read More

“Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my father and his angels.” - Revelation 3:4-5 Have you ever used the phrase “but _______ does ...  Read More