“They tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” Acts 16:7How good are you at rolling with the punches?Even Paul, the man responsible for writing a huge part of the New Testament, often found that God changed his plans. What he didn’t do however, is fall apart when it happened. He saw it as providence—a divine redirection.Maybe your plans have been jacked up. Maybe a...

“His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them” 1 Corinthians 15:10If you are completely forgiven and completely accepted, then why don’t you just sit around and do nothing?When the reality of undeserved radical love sinks in, it moves you. When you feel completely accepted in spite of complete inadequacy, you can’t help but respond in gratitude.To the apostle Paul, ...

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things” 1 Timothy 4:8There’s a clear connection between strength and training. You don’t get stronger by trying; you get stronger by training.This is commonly accepted when it comes to physical strength, but often overlooked when it comes to spiritual and emotional strength.Do you want to be stronger emotionally and spiritual...

“Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:3This is the reason Peter gave for life change—for obeying God—because his goodness had been seen.Sometimes, we get this out of order. We expect people to obey God when they haven’t yet come to see him as good.Would you listen to someone who you don’t believe has your best interest in mind?As always, God is the initiator, we are the respo...

“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” 1 Corinthians 12:1When you’re using your gifts, your work is meaningful and rejuvenating. When you’re forced to do work outside of your gifts, your work is draining and difficult.How often are you doing the things you were made to do? Are you looking for ways to exercise your gifts?The unfortunate realit...

“No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:24Growing up, one of my best friends was the grandson of a coach in the NBA. One night, he came to the practice of my fifth grade basketball team. He came with a lesson I’ll never forget.“If every player on the floor is trying to play at his best, then every player on the floor has the strength of one person (himself) be...

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” Matthew 5:15Today, you’ll probably walk into a dark situation.By dark, I don’t mean evil, I mean dull—down—lacking any sense of light.If you’re like me, you may find it natural to dim your light to the level of the environment—to take the light you have and put it under a bowl, as Jesus would say.Don’t.Let your light shine.......

“…that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7Joshua came right after Moses. He had an enormous task before him: to lead a newly formed group of people to the place God had promised. The task was challenging, the people were challenging, and their obstacles were challenging, but Joshua was told to be brave.He was told to be rooted in two things: God’s presence and God’s direction. God w...

“You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19Would you speak to someone else the way you speak to yourself?Would you speak to someone you love the way you speak to yourself?Would you speak to someone who belongs to Jesus the way you speak to yourself?You are not your own. When you speak to and care for yourself, you are speaking to and caring for someone who belongs to Jesus.Today, when you’re tempte...

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” Joshua 1:9God often says the same thing in different ways to different people for different reasons. He doesn’t just know what we need to hear; he knows how we need to hear it.One great example is how he deals with our fears.Martha was logical. Jesus gave her an explanation. Mary was emotional. Jesus gave her his tears. Peter was impulsive. Jes...

“Well done” Matthew 25:21We all want to be praised. It’s not a bad thing or a good thing. It’s the way we were wired.In the same way a little kid loves to hear his parents cheer as he slides down the slide on the playground; a full-grown adult loves being told he has done well as a parent, friend, or professional.In light of that, like anything else, we need to be aware of the potential issues tha...

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58Your labor is not in vain.I love those words.The implication is that something hangs in the balance. You will see results from your work–results that you won’t see if you quit.Whether you’re struggling at work, struggling at home, struggle at school, struggling in...

“He put a new song in my mouth” Psalm 40:3This is a little weird… God putting a new song in someone's mouth?It’s actually a pretty cool picture.The idea is that he has something new to sing about. In yet another way, at yet another time, the writer of this psalm has seen yet another side of God’s goodness.Is there an area of your life in which you have kept God out? What if you allowed him to step...

"I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21The writer of this psalm called God his “salvation.” Salvation is something that comes from a savior—a hero.Most Christians today use the term salvation to talk about life after death. More frequently though, especially in the Old Testament, salvation was something people experienced in everyday life. In other...

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35When we moved into our place a few years ago, I noticed something different about the people who lived behind us. They weren’t just nice—it was more than that. They didn’t know much about us, but they seemed to actually care about our family.One day in August, my dad and I were in the backyard breaking up co...

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” Ephesians 4:29“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29Here are three questions to ask before you say something during a conflict:1. Is it kind? Here’s where we distinguish whether we’re building up...

“You were bought at a price” 1 Corinthians 7:23Have you ever had someone fight for you? Have you had someone sacrifice for you?A little girl dreams of being rescued by the prince who risked it all to win her heart. A little boy loves to know he’ll be picked first for the team on the playground.  We want to be wanted. We love to be needed. There is something deep within us that yearns to know we ar...

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8To the ancient reader, being at someone’s right hand had a lot of applications. One of them, needless to say, is that they are close by—ready and able to help when needed.To the writer of this psalm, this was the secret to being unshaken. Every problem, every obstacle, every unforeseen difficulty was ha...

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?” 1 Corinthians 5:12These words were written by Paul, arguably the most influential leader of all time, and they teach an important lesson—one that Christians often forget.If you’re a follower of Jesus, it isn’t your job to judge the behavior of those who don’t follow Jesus. They didn't sign up for that. According to Paul, the things t...

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7This is an interesting thought—waiting for God.Is there something you want? Is there something you need? Are your prayers going unanswered? Wait for him. Maybe he’s up to something.......