Sulking in Disappointment Some days I don’t feel like getting up out of bed and rejoicing before the Lord. Instead, I feel like hiding out in the darkness and sulking about every disappointment I’ve had in life. Instead of doing my morning devotions, I simply want to camp out under the covers, stewing about how things haven’t gone my way. Perhaps I feel abandoned by God. Or maybe I am upset about another hard lesson learned through my disobedience. In any case, my own self-pity can steal my faith and joy. It takes me far from the truth that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Rising Up in the Promises of God In the past, pulling myself Read More
Tag: faith
Step Out in Faith Toward Jesus
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62 When God Calls You When God calls you forward, you must step out in faith, even if a thousand voices call you back. When you see Jesus in front of you, heading in the direction he wants you to go, you must follow. No matter where He leads. A voice inside of you may tell you to take one last glance back–to look back with longing at all that lies behind you. But this is not the voice of Jesus. It Read More
5 Powerful Lessons I Learned from Oswald Chambers
A Man Completely Surrendered to God When the classic devotional by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, was published in 1927, who could have imagined that nearly 100 years later it would still be captivating the hearts and minds of readers? Not once in this time span has it been taken out of publication. Instead it has grown in popularity among Christian believers. Indeed, generation after generation has been empowered through the God-exalting words of a humble man named Oswald Chambers, whose life goal was to give absolutely everything for God’s highest acclaim. More than anything else, the young Scottish-born pastor longed to see God high and lifted up in his generation and those to come. With a fiery, yet compassionate spirit, he urged Read More
Set Your Mind on a Course of Victory for Christ
A Small Victory Perhaps by now you’ve heard of my victory. My unbelievable victory! I ran up a hill. That’s right. All the way up a hill! Yes, God set my feet in motion that day and showed me I could do things that are hard. I was sweating and panting…and praising God that he never gives up on me. Indeed, when I set my sights on Jesus, he makes me want to start running and never back down. I may be in a heap when I cross the finish line. But I will know I have run the race with purpose. I will know that nothing else in this life could have brought me greater joy than simply running the race with Him. People Pleasing Read More
Climbing the Hill
Climbing the Hill I ran up a hill today. And I didn’t even stop at the top. No, I just kept on running. That’s simply not like me. I do enjoy a nice walk in the morning. But I’m not a huge fan of running up hills while my heart pounds wildly and sweat rolls down my back. That’s just not my favorite thing in life. So as far as I can tell, it must have been the hand of God that started pushing me up that hill because I had no idea my legs were going to kick it into high gear. With an energy I didn’t know I had, I just took off running. After a few seconds of utter shock, I thought to Read More