cannyben

“This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (GNT) When we go through difficulties in life, the first thing we often try to do is blame somebody else. But it doesn’t matter where your problem came from—God still has a purpose for it in your life. Even when you do something foolish, God can use it. Even when other people hurt you intentionally, he can use it. Even when the Devil tries to mess things up, God can bring good out of it. God’s purpose is greater than your problems and your pain. He has a plan! You need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit in your life. Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that . . . they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (TLB...

“We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEV) When you go on a diet, what’s the first thing you do? Many people go straight to the refrigerator, take out all the junk food, and get it out of the house. They want to eliminate the junk so that they are set up for success in their diet. When you realize you need a life reset, eliminating anything unhelpful or unhealthy is an important step. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete” (CEV). We often worry about junk food and what it does to us. But what about mental junk food? If you want to change your life, maybe you need ...

The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change . . . I will rebuild your city with precious stones. I will reset your foundations with sapphires. I will rebuild your towers with rubies.” Isaiah 54:10-12 (GW) There is only one place in the Bible where the word “reset” is used. It’s found in Isaiah 54. The nation of Israel had lost a war to Babylon, where they were taken as captives and would remain for 70 years. The Israelites were pretty discouraged—not just because they had lost but because their Holy City, Jerusalem, had been destroyed. In the midst of all this, God did not want them to forget that he was still with them. He loved them, and he was going to rebuild—or reset—their lives. God says in Isaiah 54:10-12, “The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change . . . I will rebuild your city with precious stones. I wi...

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT) Are you looking for a fresh start? I don’t mean moving to a new town. I’m talking about a reset in any area of your life that is stuck. You will go through many resets in your life. That’s because God didn’t just create you. He also wants to transform you into what he’s always intended for you to become. To reset and experience a transformation in your life, the first thing you need to work on is your mindset—how you see yourself, how you see others, how you see your problems, and, most importantly, how you see God. If you don’t change your mindset first, a change in your location or a change in your scenery is not going to help much. Because you could go to the ends of the Earth, but you will still take you with you wherever you go. For example, let’s say you’re stressed, so you decide to go to Hawaii for relaxation. But you just end up taking the stress with you because it’s in your body. If you don’...

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” James 4:1 (NIV) Every second of your life, there’s a battle in your brain. There’s a mental battle going on! It could be between right and wrong, between what’s easy and what’s hard, or what’s healthy and what’s unhealthy. All your negative emotions—stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, jealousy—are a mental struggle. All of your internal conflicts start in your mind. In fact, so do all of your external conflicts. James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV) That battle going on inside your mind between conflicting desires can continue even when you are sleeping, as you experience restless sleep and bad dreams. It’s a battle that rages 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This battle in your brain is constant and intense because your mind is your greatest asset. You are your thoughts, your will, you...

“If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (ERV) Making changes in any area of your life requires that you change the way you think. That’s because your brain is where God’s Spirit works in you. God’s Spirit doesn’t work in your toes or your lungs or your nose. He works through your mind! We often use the metaphor of our heart being the place where God works. For example, we say, “I invited Jesus into my heart.” But your heart is really just a symbol for your brain. Your brain is where you think—so it’s in your mind that God begins the change process. It’s where the reset takes place. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:23-24, “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person” (CEV). You were created to be like God. But that doesn’t happen instantly. To grow into someone who’s more like Jesus, you’re going to have to go through a lot of change in...

Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV) You can learn a lot about a person’s physical health by simply looking at their physical diet. Are they eating a variety of whole foods? Are they eating a lot of fast food? Is their diet full of food that help them grow strong and have energy, or is the food they consume wearing them down? The same is true spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. You can know a lot about your spiritual, mental, and emotional health by looking at your mental diet. Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise man is hungry for truth, while the mocker feeds on trash” (TLB). You have a choice—and every day, you must choose to feed your mind with the best thoughts. Philippians 4:8 gets specific about the kinds of thoughts that are best for your mental, emotional, and spiritual health: “Brothers and si...

Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 (CEV) The Bible says in 1 John 1:8, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (NLT). This is the first step to change: You have to admit that there is a problem and that the problem is in you. When you blame others or refuse to accept the truth, you’re just fooling yourself—and establishing dangerous habits. Personal change requires you to not only learn the truth about yourself but to also face it and take the steps necessary to move forward. In fact, learning to face the truth about yourself is the most loving thing you can do for yourself, for others, and for God. Ephesians 4:15 says, “Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ” (CEV). Ephesians 4:15: “Love should always make us tell the truth.” If you love yourself, if you love God, if you love other people, then you ...

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) Jesus says in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (NIV). What does sanctify mean? It simply means to grow up and to be made more like Christ—to get a reset. After you choose to follow Jesus, you’re not the same person. You’re different. You’re being sanctified. How are you sanctified? By God’s truth. The more you incorporate God’s Word into your life, the more you’re going to be transformed and made new. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to reset the areas of your life where you want to experience change. Making a change will always require you to know God’s Word. It’s the manual for resetting your life! When you decide that you don’t like the way you’re living and...

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) Jesus didn’t just come back to life and then go straight to heaven. After the resurrection, he spent 40 days traveling in Jerusalem and talking to people—one time to a group of 500 people! Because he appeared to so many, the Gospel spread rapidly over the Roman Empire. Right before he went back to heaven, Jesus gave his last instructions to his followers. These commands, known as the Great Commission, are not just meant for priests or pastors or ministers or missionaries. They apply to everyone who follows Jesus. These are Jesus’ instructions: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them i...

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (ESV) Like any loving father, God doesn’t want to lose any of his children. And there are a lot of evil forces in the world that would like to try to hurt his children. It is common for people who want to give their lives to Christ to be afraid they won’t be able to keep that commitment. They say, “There are so many temptations in my life, I’m doubting that I can keep myself saved.” But just as you can’t save yourself from your sins, you can’t keep yourself saved. That is Jesus’ job. He has made sure that no matter what happens in your life, your salvation is secure. He has ensured that you will make it safely to heaven to live with God forever. Jesus says in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch t...

“There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.” John 14:2-3 (GNT) The night before he went to the cross, Jesus wasn’t focused on the agony and pain he was about to go through. He was thinking about you. And this is what he said: “There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am” (John 14:2-3 GNT). Jesus said he was going to prepare a room in heaven for everyone who believes in him. The world is a beautiful place. Even in all its brokenness, it still contains some incredible sights. If a broken place can still be so beautiful, imagine what a place of perfection will be like. In fact, that...

I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Dreaming plays an essential role in developing your faith and helping you become the kind of person God made you to be. There’s an important connection between dreaming and believing, between your imagination and your growth. Without a dream, you get stuck. But with God-inspired dreams, you have almost limitless possibilities. Your dreams profoundly shape your identity, your happiness, your achievements, and your fulfillment. But God-inspired dreaming offers far more than just these benefits. Dreaming has eternal implications too. Dreaming is always the first step in the process God uses to change your life for the better. Everything starts as a dream! In many ways, a great dream is a statement of faith. You’re saying, “I believe that things can change and can be different, and I believe that God will enable me to accomplish it.” Wh...

“Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.” Job 37:14 (GNT) The first phase God uses to grow your faith is when he gives you a dream. But to hear this dream, you have to listen for God’s voice—and that means you have to silence the noise around you. The Bible says God speaks in a still, small voice, so you can’t hear him in the whirlwind of a chaotic life. You can’t hear God with the TV on or when you’re distracted by all the things you need to do today. You may think God never speaks to you. But perhaps it only seems that God never speaks to you—because you’re never quiet enough to listen to him! Something is always going on in your mind—you’re thinking through the week’s schedule, scrolling through social media, or replaying a difficult conversation you had with your boss. So while God is trying to get through to you on the telephone of life, he’s getting a busy signal. To hear from God, you’ve got to get quiet and reserve time alone with him. The Bibl...

A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.” Proverbs 28:26 (TLB) In this series, we’re learning how God takes us through the Six Phases of Faith—a dream, decision, delay, difficulty, dead end, and deliverance—over and over again throughout our lives to grow our faith and develop our character. The second phase God uses to grow your faith is when you decide to follow the dream you believe God has given you. Nothing happens with your dream until you move forward in faith! God gave Moses the dream of leading the children of Israel out of 400 years of slavery—but Moses had to make the decision to confront Pharaoh. God gave Noah the dream of saving the world from the flood—but Noah had to make the decision to build the ark. God gave Abraham the dream of building a new nation—but Abraham had to make the decision to leave everything and go out into the unknown. Just like these people in the Bible, you’ll never realize God’s dream for your life until you come ...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (NIV) When God gives you a dream, you won’t just accidentally fulfill it. You have to be intentional in making several critical decisions that will help grow your faith and move you toward fulfilling the dream God created you to dream. Here are two decisions that are necessary: First, you need to invest. You have to decide to invest your time, your money, your reputation, and your energy in the things that will advance your pursuit of God’s dream. In other words, you need to stop making excuses and take the plunge. This is when you say, “God, I’m not going to procrastinate any longer. I’m going to do what you’ve told me to do.” Second, you need to let go of security. You can’t move forward in faith while holding on to the past. A great picture of letting go of security is a trapeze artist. She swings out on one bar—bu...

Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act . . . Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm.” Psalm 37:7-8 (TLB) It’s frustrating when you’re in a hurry and God isn’t. And God is never in a hurry! The Bible says a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day to God. One of the most useless things to try to do is to speed up God. When we try to take matters into our own hands and help God out, we get in trouble. Proverbs 19:2 says, “Impatience will get you into trouble” (GNT). When you get a dream from God and make the decision to go for it—but then are forced into God’s waiting room—you may start trying to figure out ways of fulfilling God’s dream on your own, without his help. But the Bible says to trust God’s timing: “Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act . . . Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm” (Psalm 37:7-8 TLB). Resting can be an act of faith. It means you’re waiting on God. One day Jesus and his disciples were in a boat caught in a ragin...

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV) When you go through delays in life, don’t get discouraged. Don’t lose heart. Don’t give up! The Israelites did, and it delayed their entrance into the Promised Land. Numbers 14:2-4 says, “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses . . . ‘If only we had died in Egypt! . . . We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (NIV). They gave up on their dream. They had been rescued after 400 years of slavery but then wanted to go back because they were being delayed. Like the Israelites, some people would rather live in slavery than face the fear of freedom. They are not willing to push through and work on the problem until they get it right. They want to give up. Don’t settle for less than God’s best for your life! If that means going through a tunnel of conflict, take the tunnel. In the middle of the tunnel, it will be dark, and you will want to run back to t...

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.” John 15:5 (CEV) It’s better to rest in God’s goodness than to be overwhelmed with work and worry. But it’s also easier said than done. It can be hard to take the steps that lead to rest and the abundant life God has for you. Here are four daily habits that will help move you from overwhelmed to overflowing. 1. Stay connected to Jesus every day. “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me” (John 15:5 CEV). If you try to go through life on your own power, you’re going to be overwhelmed. You cannot fulfill your purpose and enjoy God’s goodness unless you’re plugged in to his power. 2. Replace your complaining with gratefulness. “Do everything without complaining and arguing” (Philippians 2:14 NLT)....

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NIV) God is not only able to meet all of your needs; he’s eager to meet them! But when you forget how committed God is to help you, it’s easy to stop asking for his help and to start depending on yourself. Perhaps you only ask God for the “big stuff” and not the “small stuff.” Guess what? Everything is small to God. None of your requests are big in God’s eyes. He has every hair on your head numbered, and he knows how many fell out in the sink this morning. You’re not bothering God when you give him your requests; he’s the one who set up the system of prayer in the first place. That’s why the New Testament tells you more than 20 times to ask for whatever you need in prayer. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (NIV). Sometimes, instead of asking God for something, you just worry about it. But if...

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. But did you know that God uses these things to help you grow? He does it in three ways. First, God uses pain to get your attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. You rarely change when you see the light. You change when you feel the heat. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV). When you experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. You can’t control the pain you go through, but you can decide whether it’s going to make you bitter or better. You can decide whether it’s going to be a stepping-stone or...

“Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” Psalm 77:19 (NLT) The Bible says God actively works through your circumstances. But you cannot judge your situation apart from God’s wisdom. In other words, you must leave it up to God to interpret your circumstances. Only he is capable of understanding all the facts, and only he sees the significance of every detail. That’s why it is so important that you test it all by his Word. If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision, it might be because you’re so caught up in in your own, limited way of thinking, that it blocks out God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if you’re feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in your life. There will be times you come up against enormous financial, spiritual, or physical barriers. That’s when you need to confess, “God, the...

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (TLB) When everything around you is uncertain, the key to stability is to focus on unchangeable truth. You need to focus on what never changes: God’s Word and God’s character. Here are some unchangeable truths you need to tell yourself during a time of uncertainty: God sees everything you’re going through. “The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18 NIV). God cares about everything you’re going through. “But I will watch for the LORD; I will wait confidently for God, who will save me. My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7 GNT). God has the power to change what you’re going through. “Ask, and you will be given what you ask for. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be ope...

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT) Everything in life changes—relationships, jobs, health, finances. But there’s one thing in the universe that will never change: God’s love. God loves you, no matter what. Your failures, your brokenness, and your sin can never diminish his love. Knowing you can count on God’s love provides a rock-solid foundation for your life. The Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16, says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (NIV). Consider the small word “so” that goes before “loved” in that verse. “So” suggests the extravagance of God’s love. God loves you with a generous, extravagant love that can never be taken away. It’s beyond comprehension. He loves you on your good days and your bad days. He loves you when you ...

It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it . . . As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!” 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (The Message) Do you need more margin in your life? One way to find it is to do less and trust God more. Why will that help? Because God can do more in 20 minutes than you can do in 20 years. Think about your own life. Are there goals or dreams that you’ve been striving, seeking, working, and hurrying for year after year without achieving them? Why don’t you just back off a little bit? Relax. Trust God. Watch what he can do. If you make space in your life, you may find that he accomplishes your dreams much faster and better than you can. The only benefit of being stretched and overloaded is that it forces you to trust God. It brings you to your knees as you realize you’re up against the...

Let love be your highest goal! 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT) Human beings have an amazing capacity to both remember and forget. We remember every single little hurt we’ve ever experienced—but we forget the lessons those hurts taught us. And so, we end up needing to learn the same lessons over and over again. That’s why we need to learn to pray like David: “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Psalm 90:12 CEV). The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Let love be your highest goal!” (NLT) In other words, make love your number one priority. Make it your primary objective. Make it your greatest ambition. Make it your life purpose. Don’t say, “One of the things I want in life is loving relationships.” Don’t just put it in your “Top 10.” Make it number one! Why does God say to make love your highest goal? There are two reasons: First, God says that love is what life is all about. The Bible says, “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love” (1 Corinthian...

“We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again . . . we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 (CEV) When the future is uncertain and there is a lot of fear, it might seem like your story is coming to an end. But the Bible says, “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again . . . we know that God raised the Lord Jesus back to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 CEV). When life seems uncertain, remember this truth: You can’t lose! You’ll win in the end, no matter what happens...

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4 (NIV) You may not be in the valley of the shadow of death right now, but you may be in another valley. Valleys are the hard places on your journey, where it’s easy to doubt or overlook God’s goodness. But you can always trust that God walks through the valleys with you. And he’s promised to bring you through to the other side. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (NIV). Here are three truths to remember when you are in the valley: 1. You are not alone. God is with you. The shadows in your life are evidence of the presence of light. How do you deal with a shadow? You turn your back to the shadow and look at the light. Jesus said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life” (John 8:12 CEV). The Bible says that God is light and that in him there...

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4 (NIV) In Israel, on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, there’s a canyon called the Valley of the Shadow of Death. In his day, David probably traveled through it many times. Some of the canyons along the road to Jericho were narrow at the bottom and as tall as 800 feet. The only time you could see sunshine at the bottom was at noon when the sun was straight overhead. In the Bible, valleys are often a metaphor for times of darkness, despair, defeat, or discouragement. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (NIV). The Bible teaches that God is not just a part of your mountaintop experiences. He is also with you in the valleys. There are three things you need to remember about the valleys: Valleys are a part of life. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 11:11, “The land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys” (NLT...

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV) When a crisis hits, you have to do the smart things necessary to get through it. You listen to God’s Word and godly advice, you make good choices, and you keep moving forward while remembering that this will pass. It’s not going to last forever! The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you” (TLB). In this world, there will be times of trial and testing. It’s guaranteed! Since sin entered the world, nothing works perfectly. Everything on this planet is broken—the weather, the economy, your body, and even your best plans. Nothing works perfectly in this life because sin broke everything on E...

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11 (TLB) Sheep are essentially defenseless animals, so a shepherd carries a few tools to care for and protect his sheep. He has a rod for guarding and protecting, and he uses a staff with a little crook in it to rescue the sheep. We are like lost sheep in need of protection and direction—so Jesus came to Earth to be our Good Shepherd. He said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11 TLB). Just as a shepherd uses the physical tools of the rod and the staff for direction and protection, God wants to direct and protect you. Here are two ways he does that: If you follow him, Jesus leads you in the right direction. If you visit a major city like Paris without a guide, you’ll miss all kinds of important things, because you won’t know what to look for. The same...

“The simpletons believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.” Proverbs 14:15 (NLT) If you spend any time on your phone or watching TV these days, you’re going to get a lot of information from a lot of different sources. It’s important, now more than ever, to remember that not everything you hear is true. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:15, “The simpletons believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word” (NLT). Not everybody who speaks on the Internet, social media, TV, or radio knows what they’re talking about. Not everybody who’s talking is worth listening to. You need to be selective! Many people take advantage of any crisis and bring to it their own agenda. There will be some who try to use difficult days for their own political or financial advantage. They will scare people into making rash decisions. Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (TLB). The Bible repeatedly say...

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV) A common source of stress is loss. You can lose your job, your health, your money, your reputation, or a loved one. And when you add all the other challenges you have in life, it just amplifies the stress. There are two common reactions to loss. One is fear, and the other is grief. Grief is good. Grief is the way we get through the transitions of life. In fact, if you don’t grieve, you get stuck! Grief will not wreck you if you let it out. Fear, on the other hand, can be a bad thing. Not once in the Bible does it say, “Grieve not,” “Sorrow not,” “Weep not,” or “Cry not.” It does say, “Fear not.” And it says that 365 times! Grief doesn’t paralyze us, but fear does. In Psalm 23:4, David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they c...

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT) What are you worried about today? The economy? Your health? Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are a lot of reasons to be afraid in today’s world. But God promises that, even in your darkest valleys, he is walking beside you. It’s interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, “Fear not.” God provided us with one “Fear not” message for every day of the year! He wants us to hear the message: Don’t be afraid”? Why does God have to repeat himself so often when it comes to our worries and fears? It’s because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all he wants to do is condemn us and punish us. But that simply isn’t true. Jesus is the proof of that. When you understand God’s grace and mercy, then you have no need to fear the fu...

“When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice.” John 10:4 (CEV) God guides you. When you get confused or wander away, Jesus will find you and bring you back. Much like sheep, we tend to wander—and we get lost. So God sent Jesus on a search and rescue mission to save us, “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT). Why? Because every single one of us matters to him. When God brings you back from wandering away from him, he will not punish you, but he may discipline you. Like a shepherd that wraps the legs of a sheep that is prone to wander, God may give you a limp to keep you from wandering. God guards you. If you fail or fall, Jesus rescues you and sets you on the road to recovery. We not only wander, but, just like sheep, we also stumble and fall. The good news is that you can run to Jesus every time you mess up and expect him to rescue and restore you. Jesus said, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into...

“I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11 (GW) When we see a crowd, we can easily get irritated or impatient. But when Jesus saw a crowd, “he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 ESV). That’s the same way God looks at you: with compassion. He doesn’t put you down. He lifts you up! No matter how angry, hurt, or betrayed you feel, Jesus will always respond with compassion. He knows how helpless we are without him, “like sheep without a shepherd.” Without a shepherd, sheep are defenseless. They don’t have any claws, they don’t run fast, and their teeth are not very sharp. They need the protection of a shepherd. Throughout the Bible, sheep are a symbol of God’s people. John 10:10-11 says, “I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. I am the ...

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (NCV) You can’t save yourself—but you don’t have to! All you need to do is put your hand in God’s hand and say, “God, I surrender it all to you—all the good and bad parts of my life. I’m not perfect, but you are, and so I’m accepting your gift of salvation.” When you do that, you can relax in your salvation. But some days, you’ll want to let go of God’s hand. You’ll want to pull back and say, “I don’t even know what I believe.” But God is never going to let go of your hand, because he loves you too much. Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29 NCV). The “eternal life...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5 (NIV) David knew what it meant to be attacked emotionally, verbally, and physically. As a young man, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but Saul was still king. Even though David served him loyally, Saul was jealous of the future king and decided to kill him. David had to hide from Saul in caves while lies were being told about him across the kingdom. Yet David never said a bad word against King Saul. He never retaliated—because God was preparing David to be a king who followed God’s heart. David said of God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5 NIV). Does it sound like David was stressed out? No! He didn’t have to use up all his energy defending himself, because he trusted God to be his defender. It takes a lot of faith and humility to trust God and rest when you’re under attack, when you’re misunderstood, and when rumors are spreading about y...

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” Psalm 34:18 (NCV) Everyone will experience loss. And you don’t just “get over” a loss. You can’t go under it; you can’t go around it. You’ve got to go through the grief. If you’re scared to express emotion and refuse to go through it, that’s where you get stuck. You get unstuck by letting God help you. Here are six ways he does that: 1. God draws you close to himself. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed” (NCV). When you grieve, God may seem a million miles away. But what you feel and what is real are not always the same thing. In fact, God has never been any closer to you than when you are grieving. 2. God grieves with you. The Bible says Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). When you come to Jesus with your grief, he understands your pain. God is a suffering God, and he is a sympa...

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) God never asks you to do something without providing what you need to do it. Anointing is a sign of God’s equipping and empowering you to fulfill an assignment he’s given you. Do you want God’s resurrection power to work through your life? Then you need to understand what it means to have his anointing. To understand God’s anointing, you need to keep a few things in mind. 1. When God says to do it, you can count on his anointing. Jesus’ last assignment to his disciples was impossible. There was no way they could possibly take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. It could only happen through his power. God will often give you an assignment that looks physically impossible, but he will make it possible. “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV). 2. God’s anointing makes difficult tasks easier. Your resources, energy, knowledge, wisdom, and talent are all limited—but ...

“I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26 (NIV) When God blessed Jacob, he promised to give him land, multiply his family, make him a mighty nation, and use him to bless the world. He made Jacob and his family God’s chosen people. But just like he does with you today, God gave Jacob a promise and then tested his faith in that promise. In Genesis 32, Jacob struggled with God all night long in a wrestling match that tested his patience, faith, and trust. Then God injured Jacob at his hip and gave him a serious disadvantage. Jacob was hurt and tired, and yet, at dawn, he still said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26 NIV). Isn’t that an interesting thing to say to somebody you’re wrestling with? Apparently sometime during this all-night struggle, Jacob became aware that the one he was wrestling with was no ordinary individual. He was wrestling with God. And so, Jacob refused to let go, knowing that God could bless him. Maybe you feel like you’re wr...

“My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV) Is your life overflowing? If you’re like most people, it may be overflowing—but not with goodness. So many people have overbooked their calendars, overspent their money, overdrawn their credit, overloaded their emotions, overworked their bodies, overcrowded their days, and overvalued the approval of others. As a result, they wind up overstressed, overanxious, and overwhelmed—and they’re over it! They are far from experiencing the goodness of God. Why do we do let ourselves get overextended? Often the fear of missing out motivates us to do more. But the truth is you’re not missing out on anything when you rest in the goodness and provision of God. God wants to move you from being overwhelmed to overflowing. He wants to meet all your needs—and he can! First, you need to recognize two fundamentally different approaches to life that either keep you from God’s abundance o...

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV) The moment you start doubting the goodness of God and deciding for yourself what will make you happy, all kinds of problems begin in your life. You wind up overworked, overanxious, and overloaded—and just generally overwhelmed! But God promises you an overflowing life, not an overwhelmed life. Jesus said, “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 GNT). How do you experience an abundant, overflowing life? There is one habit that, if you do it every day, will fill you with an endless supply of God’s goodness: Stay connected to Jesus. In John 15:5, Jesus compared staying connected to him with a grapevine: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV). What happens when a cluster of grapes is cut off...

“In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing.” Philippians 2:14 (TLB) If you want to move from an overwhelmed life to an overflowing life, you need to start being grateful, and stop complaining. Studies have shown that gratitude produces chemicals in your brain that make you feel peaceful and happy. An attitude of gratitude is something you can start the moment you wake up. Before you get out of bed, make a list of things you’re grateful for. For example, your list might say, “God, I’m grateful for fresh air; I’m grateful for this bed; I’m grateful I’m not in danger.” Even if you can’t think of anything to be grateful for, the simple act of trying to be grateful will change your brain chemistry. The Bible says, “In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing” (Philippians 2:14 TLB). When you complain about something, how does that help you? If you complain about the weather, does it change the weather? If you complain about the way you look, does it chan...

It's healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up.” Proverbs 14:30 (CEV) To live an abundant life that overflows with God’s goodness, the first thing you need to do is start being grateful and stop complaining. The second thing you need to do is start being content and stop comparing. God made you to be you. He doesn’t want you to be anybody else! When you compare yourself to other people, you get envious and resentful, and you might even start to copy them. But God has never made a clone. God only makes originals. Even identical twins are different in thousands of ways. If you won’t be you, then who will be you? The truth is that comparing only gets you in trouble. When you compare your looks, your grades, your spouse, your career, or your kids, it causes two problems. One, you get full of discouragement, because you can always find someone who’s doing a better job than you—someone who is better looking, makes more money, or has more talent. And two, you get full of pride. Why...

The Lord watches over all who love him.” Psalm 145:20 (NIV) When you put your trust in Jesus, you never need to fear the future. His goodness and mercy are with you every day. You’re following the Good Shepherd, and he is out in front of you with his rod and staff. And at the back of the flock are a couple of sheepdogs—goodness and mercy—nipping at your heels, making sure you don’t run off. These two sheepdogs keep you on track as you follow the Good Shepherd. God’s goodness is watching over you. Did you know that a second has never passed in your life when God was not watching you? God is always paying attention to you, because he created you to love you. He knows every detail of your life. Psalm 145:20 says, “The Lord watches over all who love him” (NIV). Not only does he watch over you, but he also protects you. The Bible says, “God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 CEV). God’s protection doesn’t mean that only good things will happen to you. Suf...

The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy.” James 3:17 (NLT) Mercy is like a diamond; it is multifaceted. Today we’re going to look at seven facets of mercy. And I guarantee that learning how to be an agent of mercy will transform your relationships. 1. Mercy means being patient. The Bible says in James 3:17, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy” (NLT). The wiser you become, the more patient and merciful you become. 2. Mercy means helping anyone around you who is hurting. You cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being merciful. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (GNT). 3. Mercy means giving people a second chance. When somebody hurts you, you normally want to get even or write that person off. But the Bible says, “Stop being bitter ...

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6 (NLT) Even in the middle of your hurts, habits, and hang-ups, God is watching over you. David says to God in Psalm 23:6, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life” (NLT). When David says, “Surely your goodness will pursue me,” he’s not saying, “Surely only good things are going to happen to me.” David knew as well as anyone that bad things happen to good people. He had been abused and treated unfairly and was still a man who followed God’s heart. But he had also sinned terribly against people who had done no wrong to him. David’s point is that, no matter how bad, evil, or difficult something seems—and no matter how much we mess things up—God will work it out for good. His goodness is pursuing us, no matter which way we turn. It’s one of God’s great promises that he’s given to believers: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love...

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6 (NLT) When you’re struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups, God comes right alongside you, helping to pick up your messes and telling you that his unfailing love is always there. This means that, rather than entering the future with a question mark, you can do it with an exclamation point! God will be with you, no matter what happens. He will help you out: “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6 NLT). What is God’s goodness, and what is his unfailing love? God’s goodness is the fact that God gives us good things in life that we don’t deserve. His unfailing love—his mercy—means that God holds back the condemnation we do deserve. Remember this: • God’s goodness will provide and protect. • God’s mercy (unfailing love) will pardon and forgive. • God’s goodness will supply your every need. • Go...

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NLT) Someday your life on Earth is going to end, but that’s not going to be the end of you. You’re going to live forever in one of two places: heaven or hell. Your body is going to die, but you’re not going to die, because you were made to last forever. How long is forever going to last? Forever! The Bible tells us why Christians should be the most confident about the future: “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord . . . We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 NIV). You will never know how to really live until you’re ready to die. Only a fool would go through life totally unprepared for something that everybody knows is inevitable. You’re going to die someday. If you’ve accepted Christ, then you’re...