Surviving a Spiritual Slump
Has spiritual dryness staked a claim in your heart? Have you descended into a cave of depression that borders desperation and despair?
BATTLE READY: THE ENCOUNTER
Scripture is clear that our spiritual battle belongs to the Lord. We are not strong enough to fight and win it on our own. We saw yesterday that God is the Mighty Warrior who dresses for war with the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, along with all the needed battle gear. When God is with us, we will win every time. So, why do I often lose the battle? Why do I give in to temptation and embrace sin? If the battle truly belongs to the Lord, why am I ever defeated?
Characteristics of True Friendship – Part 3
The Bible says it better; “people who need people, are the most blessed people in the world.”
BATTLE READY: THE ENCOUNTER
The spiritual battle hits us from all sides. Satan desires to keep unbelievers blind to the gospel. He is at work to discredit and destroy us. The culture around us is opposed to God. Our fleshly desires rise within our souls. The battle rages within and without. And…we must never forget—the battle belongs to the Lord!
Characteristics of True Friendship – Part 2
Do you know who your true friends are? Those you can count on to be strong and weak with you in every season of life?
BATTLE READY: THE ENCOUNTER
Michael is not just any angel—he is of the highest rank of angels, an archangel who has engaged in spiritual battles. Michael the archangel is a heavyweight! He is described in three books as fighting against evil spirits and forces of darkness. When Michael was sent to help Daniel, at the angel’s touch, Daniel fell down, trembling on his hands and knees (Daniel 10:10-14). In Revelation 12, we read of Michael leading the charge against “the dragon and his angels” (Revelation 12:7). Yet, with his high standing and spiritual strength, he dared not go after Satan on his own. In a showdown with Satan described in Jude 1:9, he depended on the Lord to fight for him. So must we.
BATTLE READY: THE ENCOUNTER
We are in a battle, but not with other people. Our struggles with people and circumstances are real-life events and cause real-life problems. However, hiding behind every circumstance, there is a conspirator. Hiding behind every deception, there is a deceiver. Hiding behind every hurt, there is a hunter. Hiding behind every lie, there is the father of lies. Our clash is not with “flesh and blood.” We are in a spiritual battle.
Confronting My Fear – The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Fear hits us from all angles. We desire to make a difference and fear living a life that doesn’t count. We need control and fear surrendering to God. We fear insignificance and uncertainty. The fear of failure drives us to make rash decisions or causes us to fear deciding at all. And then there is the final enemy—we fear dying. We battle fear, but things change when we realize the battle is too big for us. We are surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned. The battle against fear will be won, at the end of the day, by coming to grips with this truth: The battle belongs to the Lord. That’s what King David learned early in his life.
Characteristics of True Friendship – Part 1
Who would you take a bullet for? Who would take one for you? Perhaps more to the point, who would you stand with in the face of powerful opposition?
Confronting My Fear – Death
One comedian has quipped. “I don’t fear death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Most of us would agree there is some truth to that statement. The mystery of “the other side” causes anxiety, if not downright fear. So, let’s confront the fear of death by considering what awaits us on the other side.
The Slippery Slope of Success
Have you ever felt you were sliding down into success…headed for a place the world considers lofty…one you know to be a destination glittering with corruptible gold?
Confronting My Fear – Death
It seems to me that those who fear death the most are involved in life the least. They have focused their sights on the temporal things of the world. In essence, those who fear death, it seems, fear life and have prioritized self-indulgence for the remainder of their days. Slowing down and focusing on oneself is not Scripture’s perspective on life. Theologian J. I. Packer explains it this way.
Defiers of God
There are giants in the world and in your heart. Their stature is so imposing you fear they will overpower you and your faith.
Episode 4 Confronting Secret Sins
Secret sins. They chip away at the foundation at our soul. They destroy relationships with those we love. And they never stay secret for long. This episode tells the powerful story to freedom and restoration.
Confronting My Fear – Death
Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of China. Among his many achievements was building large sections of the Great Wall of China. However, the emperor lived in fear. To ensure his power and authority, he banned and burned many books and buried scholars alive. But his greatest fear was death.
A Matter of the Heart
Too often we make “audition room” judgments of ourselves and others. We ask whether we have the right “look”…the “X factor” appearance that marks our culture’s ideal of successful people.
Confronting My Fear – Failure
What’s holding you back? Could it be the fear of failing? Or failing again? Maybe you were serious about your walk with Christ and made progress…for a while. But then life got in the way, and you fell back into the same old habits. Now you are thinking, “What’s the use? I don’t want to fail again.” “I don’t want to make commitments I can’t keep.” “I don’t want to start something I can’t finish.” “I don’t want to get hurt in another relationship.” “I don’t want to disappoint God…again.”
Does Character Count? – Part 2
Remove the bridle from a spirited horse and you’ll be in for a dangerous ride. So it is with the impulsive person. Without character to steer him or her, only tragedy awaits along the path of real life.
Confronting My Fear – Failure
Sebastian Coe was one of the greatest middle-distance runners in England’s history. During his career, he set eleven world records and won gold medals in the 1,500-meter event at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics. He was favored to win the 800-meter event at the 1980 Olympics but lost to his archrival and countryman, Steve Ovett. That loss delivered fear to his heart when he faced Ovett six days later in the 1,500-race. What if he failed?
Confronting My Fear – Failure
Sometimes, the fear of failure causes us to freeze. We simply can’t make a decision for fear it will be the wrong one. And sometimes, the fear of failure causes us to take matters into our own hands. No time to wait for God. After all, it’s your job, your career, your marriage, your children. You know what’s best. You say, “I will not fail! Here’s what I must do!” Fear makes us unpredictable. Sometimes, we fight; sometimes, we freeze. That’s what happened to a man named King Saul.