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Imagine being a little bird locked up in a cage only to sit on a perch, never to use your wings. But one day, someone carries your cage outside, lifts the door, and says “Fly, little one! Fly as God made you to!” Oh, the wonder and excitement, the joy and the rush from that first push off the door frame and into the open sky. After flying into freedom, you wouldn’t fly back into that cage again… or would you? So often that’s what we do after God releases us from shame or whatever prison our heart was in before. But freedom in Christ doesn’t come with a return address. When He says free, He means free.

Just how old is the Bible, anyway? The answer’s not that simple because it wasn’t written all at one time; it was written by forty different authors over a 1,500 year-period. The first book was written around 1400 BC, the last book around AD 90. So going back to the first book, the Bible would be over 3,400 years old! And if you counted from when the last book was written, it’d still be over 1,900 years old. Considering the fact that the Bible is the highest selling book to date ever, even after all these centuries of time, it looks obvious that it’s going to last forever. Besides, God’s own Word says it will, and His Word is truth. What a gift!

King Darius had just witnessed a miracle: Daniel spent an entire night in a den with wild, hungry lions and walked out unharmed. There is no explanation except that God ruled over the lions’ desire to eat Daniel, and the miracle changed a king’s life. Are you in a den with lions right now? Is your faith being tested and you’re wondering what in the world is going on? Well, God is going on – He is working in you to trust Him more than ever, and displaying for others His presence and goodness. Yes, goodness. Your life is a testimony. It’s about others seeing Christ and His power in you so they will want Him too – the way a king was won over through Daniel!

Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are. Our lives do follow the direction of our thoughts. The better we grasp that truth, the better equipped we’ll be to change the trajectory of our lives. But don’t take my word for it. Both the Bible and modern science provide evidence that this is true. Here’s a brief example of both: In Philippians 4:8–9, the apostle Paul writes, “Finally, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” In these three sentences Paul moves from thought (“think about such things”) to action (“put it into practice”) to experience (“the God of peace will be with you”). Paul tells us that our thoughts shape our lives. In recent years, an entire discipline of modern psychology has developed called cognitive behavioral therapy. This breakthrough teaching reveals that many problems, from eating disorders to relational challenges, addictions, and even some forms of depression and anxiety, are rooted in faulty and negative patterns of thinking. Treating those problems begins with changing that thinking. I don’t know about you, but when the Bible and modern psychology say the same thing, I want to know more. What science is demonstrating today is what God told us through Solomon almost three thousand years ago: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 So if both the Bible and modern science teach us that our lives are moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts, then we need to ask ourselves, “Do I like the direction my thoughts are taking me?” If your answer is no, then maybe it’s time to change your thinking. Maybe it’s time to decide to change your mind so God can change your life. With God’s help, you can transform your mind. You can stop believing the lies that hold you back. You can end the vicious cycle of thoughts that are destructive to you and others. You can allow God to renew your mind by saturating you with His unchanging truth.

You can have a lot of friends, but there are very few with whom you can share your deepest thoughts. Your bond can be so tight, you know what the other is thinking or how they’ll react in any given situation. Did you know that, in the same way, God is your friend – the closest you’ll ever have? He loves your company and wants to hear what is on your heart and share what He knows will bless yours. It’s true – He really does. Won’t you call to Him now?

Have you ever tried to lift an anchor? They are heavy! Their weight is determined by the size of the vessel they’re meant to hold during high current and wind conditions. No matter how harsh the weather, the boat it’s attached to will stay securely in place until the weather calms and returns to normal. Likewise, the hope you have in God is stronger than the very trial you are facing so you won’t be moved. Through hope, you are anchored to Him who will never let you go and who will supply all help as you rest in Him.

In today’s world, people are all over the place! Nice people are being mean; mean people are being nice. Some people are trying to make things better; others are trying to make things worse. Then, there are those who are trying to hold on to what they have, and others are trying to get things they’ve never had. Everybody’s snatching and grabbing, pulling and tugging, because the world is in chaos. We are being bombarded with negative imagery and all kinds of news. During such times, people ask, “Where is God?” as if He no longer exists. To the contrary, this is God’s best time! God works best in chaos. God created the earth in chaos. God brings order to chaos. He separates and regulates, He orchestrates and manages, because He works best in chaos! What this world needs right now is for God to bring order to our chaos. We need God to put things in order, but we will never see God move if we do not pray, seek His face, or call on His name. We will never see God move until we understand that He can get great things to come out of unpleasant encounters. God works in chaos and confusion, in problems and turmoil. It was in the middle of a kingless Israel, where everything seemed right in each other’s eyes, that God planted a seed in the barren womb of a woman named Hannah — where His plan was to bring order to a chaotic Israel. This is how newness begins, how order comes out of chaos. It doesn’t start in a way that satisfies the desperation of the masses. In the midst of this world’s crisis, God is already raising up, moving in, and stretching out. He has already planted the seed that will bring order to this world’s chaos — whether we see it or not. God is always doing something whether we know it or not. Real change happens behind closed doors. God does not announce His plan publicly, because He does not need approval, criticism, or opinion of any kind to get it done. To know God is to know that He is working all the time and that He will bring order to the chaos.

We serve a God Who will never allow something major in our lives that can’t help us. He won’t allow any tragedy into our lives that can’t be used for our benefit. He can take something that is terrible and work it out to where it is a blessing in the long run. We often cannot see that in the short-term, but it is a truth that we find in Scripture. Life is full of epic challenges and obstacles, and we must find ways to overcome them. Some obstacles in life are small and easy, but some may seem nearly impossible. Life’s obstacles can bring fear. When we come to those obstacles and they look scary, we may wonder how in the world we can possibly conquer them. Often, God will give us things in life to test us. Such testing is designed for us to be strengthened. Every time we do any type of exercise, we are strengthening our bodies. We actually strengthen our muscles by tearing them down. Most exercises are developed in a way that tears down so that our bodies can rebuild stronger. That’s the whole purpose of a test or exercise, and such is the same in our spiritual lives. God will send testing our way. If we can work through it and get over the obstacles, it will strengthen us so that next time we will be able to do something greater.

Fear runs wild when we have a distorted view of God’s truth. It leads us to live a life based on half-truths, where fear penetrates our minds and hearts. For so long, this described me. I expected God to meet my needs only if I obeyed the rules, and that He would never give me more than I could handle. But, as I got to know God and His truth, I discovered how wrong I was. He’s not about rules, and ALL things are possible in Him. If we want to win the battle against fear, we must align ourselves with the whole truth of who God is and who He says we are. To grasp the truth that God offers, we have to learn who He is. His character. His attributes. What makes Him angry? What makes Him sad? The more we know, the more we understand how He protects our hearts, guards our minds, and equips us to fight. God is who we need. But, we can’t know this unless we dig in and do the hard work. This means reading the Bible, applying it, sharing our thoughts with God, and letting Him share His with us. God is the only One that will quiet the fear that holds us captive. We must get to know Him. The more we know God, the more we learn about who He says we are. We discover we are loved and important. We realize we are disciplined overcomers with talents and gifts. The more our truth increases, the more our fear decreases. We unleash God’s power within us to overcome doubts, stop fear, and live with confidence. The confusion fades, and the truth stands tall. We use fear instead of letting fear use us. Fear becomes a feeling that points out the areas of our minds and hearts not aligned with God’s truth. We stand victorious when we know God and our identity in Him. Fear doesn’t have to make us run and hide. We can take every fear-filled thought captive and experience freedom through a personal relationship with Jesus. It’s time to let Him become the center of our life. Today, as you read Scripture and engage in conversation, evaluate where you are by asking these two questions. Do I know about God or know Him personally? Do I believe who God says I am?

One of the common sources of stress is a loss. You can lose your job, your health, your money, your reputation, or a loved one. During the coronavirus pandemic, stress has been amplified. When people go through loss, there are two common reactions. 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 kill 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.” What it does say is “Fear not.” And it says that 365 times! Because 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 comfort me.” David knew shepherds always carried a rod and a staff to protect their sheep. And he knew God had the power to protect him. So David trusted God, even in the darkest valleys. We, too, can choose to trust God—even in the shadows, where it doesn’t make sense and can seem like it’s a long way out of the valley. But here’s the good news to remember about big, scary shadows. You can’t have a shadow without light. If you see a shadow, that means there is a light shining nearby. So, when you’re going through the valley of the shadow, the key is to turn your back on the shadow and look at the light. Because as long as you keep your eyes on the light—Jesus, the Light of the World—the shadow won’t scare you. Just like David, trust God in the dark valleys, and pray, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn”(Psalm 142:3).

Here’s a common scenario: Someone raises their voice against you, so you raise your voice in response. Then they raise their voice higher, then you raise your voice higher. And the situation keeps escalating. Some scientists suggest we do this because mirror neurons in our brain are meant to give us the ability to empathize with others and even mirror what they feel. But, unchecked, we can begin to mirror the anger and antagonism of someone in an argument. Let me give you a little tip that will save you a lot of heartache and conflict in your life: When other people raise their voices, lower yours—in your marriage, in your parenting, in your friendships, and at work. That’s called strength under control. The Bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV). Gentleness defuses conflict. It deescalates anger. When someone raises their voice in anger, instead of getting defensive, practice gentleness. Let your gentle answer disarm the other person and diffuse the situation.

Comparison is completely destructive. It makes you feel less than you really are and leads to self-depreciation, self-rejection, depression and fear. Spending your time looking at what you are not, what someone else is doing or what you wish you could be doing only serves to shrink God in you. God did not make you to be someone else or to do someone else’s ministry. He made you to be you, and when you become the best that you can be, there is more of you to be filled with God. Competition is healthy on a sporting field, but not within the body of Christ. We are all a part of the same body; comparison and competition only serve to destroy it. We are called to complete each other, not compete with one another. Let’s remember that we are on the same team, fighting for the same cause, serving the same master – Jesus Christ.

Maybe the reason you haven’t heard from God has nothing to do with God at all. Maybe the reason you don’t feel close to God has more to do with you than him. Maybe it’s because you haven’t been still enough or silent enough to hear him. We live our lives constantly on the go. When you ask someone how they are, how do they normally respond? “Good, but busy.” If you want to get close to God, you have to make time for God. If you want to hear from God, you have to make time to be quiet and listen. If something matters to you, you’ll make time for it. If it’s really a priority, you’ll put it on the calendar. You can’t just assume it will happen. So, what’s your calendar look like? Do you have time scheduled to spend time with God? If not, schedule a time and place right now. Once you finish reading this, open your calendar app, and add a new event.

If God did speak to you, what would it sound like? I think some people believe it will be super obvious when God speaks to them, and, it may be. However, God often speaks in a whisper. Here’s the problem: all of the noise in life often crowds out the voice of God in our lives. For some, the noise of critics and the voices of others drowns out the voice of God. You are too busy listening to the opinions of others that you aren’t making time to hear the truth of God. For others of you, you live constantly distracted by media. You can’t seem to still your mind because every time you have a quiet minute, you pull out your phone to fill the time. What is the noise in your life? Today, how can you quiet that noise and eliminate distractions in order to be still and listen to God?

Sometimes, we use the excuse that God hasn’t told us what to do, so we don’t do anything. We just sit back and wait to hear from God what we should do with our future, what college we should go to, what career path to pursue, or what relationships are worth investing in. But, don’t just sit back and do nothing. While you’re waiting to hear from God on something like that, here’s what you have to know. God has already given you a clear direction on what you ought to do next. When Jesus first went out to choose the disciples, the call was always the same. He went to them and said, “Follow me”. In fact, twenty times throughout the Gospels Jesus says, “Follow me.” That’s what God is saying to you and me today. Just follow me. You might not know what God is asking you to do five years from now, but you can know what he wants you to do next. Just do that. And then do that again. And again. And again. What’s the next right thing you know you ought to do right now? Go and do it.

“After winter comes the summer. After night comes the dawn. And after every storm, there come clear, open skies.” – Samuel Rutherford The truth behind Samuel Rutherford’s statement is what led Jesus to see beyond His crown of thorns to a crown of majesty; beyond the nails in His hands and feet to an exalted name in Glory; beyond the betrayal and abandonment of His disciples to the love and worship of those who would believe in Him; beyond the visible suffering to the invisible glory. Jesus could endure the suffering because He saw the blessing which would follow. This is the same perspective we should have in our trials. While it is true God can make good come from the worst difficulties, He never asks us to paint a rosy picture of the distress, pain, disappointment, or discomfort we feel, or to pretend it doesn’t exist. Instead, He encourages us to look beyond the present hardships we face to the blessings which will come if we don’t quit. That’s what it means to persevere. That’s what it takes to win. There will be times when the going gets tough. It might be a hard time selling a house. It may be a terrible trial involving a loved one. A company may close. Something will go wrong at some time, and we will have to make a choice: am I going to become a victim of despair and self-pity, or am I going to fight my way through it and be a victor with God’s help? If we want to win, then we need to persevere — but the choice is ours.

Don’t allow what you’re going THROUGH to block what you’re going TO. GOD is preparing you for something GREAT!

If you quit right now, you’ll end up back where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are now. So keep going!

God says “I’m not preparing the blessings for you, but I’m preparing you for the blessings.”

Getting your life together requires a certain level of honesty. It’s not easy to realize you’re the one that’s holding you back.

Don't be afraid to start over again. This time you are not starting from scratch, you're starting from experience.

Keep DRIVING. What was once in your WINDSHIELD is now in your REARVIEW.

God is going to bless you without warning because you prayed without doubting. Keep the faith and pray without ceasing.

I quit judging people when God showed me how quick He can put me in their shoes. Be quick to judge yourself and slow to judge others. Pray for them.

You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one. Mistakes don’t define you. The past is just that, the past. The present is a “present” so be present. Keep the faith, keep pushing and move on to your next chapter.

Most people don’t recognize a blessing when there is no money involved. Blessings come in many different forms. Don’t miss out on an opportunity.

Don’t allow the few things that are against you make you forget how many are for you.

Two things define you: patience when you have nothing and attitude even you have everything.

Dear God, Burn every bridge in my life that leads my life back to destruction.

God will never leave you empty handed. If He asks you to put something down, it’s because He wants you to pick up something greater.

Your life has been filled with “almost” and “what if’s.” It’s easy to give up. Keep in mind that the greatest comeback stories always include a “but...”

“Don’t be afraid of your fears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know that something is worth it.”

If it’s for you, it will come to you. No chasing, no anxiety, no stress. What’s for you can never pass you by. Trust the process but more than anything trust God and know that he will never leave you or forsake you and wants to bless you beyond anything you can ask or think.

When you move your focus from competition to contribution, life becomes a celebration. Never defeat people; just win them.

God has not forgotten about you. He has not overlooked you. Be patient. There is a time for everything. God has perfect timing.

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. INCLUDING YOU...

Since you have been praying for the right people to walk into your life, God will allow the wrong ones to walk out.

Remember, most of your stress is coming from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust your attitude and all of that extra stress is gone.

Look at your daily habits and ask yourself if they are causing you to evolve or revolve. Are you moving forward or going in circles?

I’ve learned to give. Not because I have so much. But, because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing.

How can we say we love God who we can’t see…when we don’t demonstrate love to people we can see? That eternal question pricks our hearts every single time we hear it. This is one of the greatest challenges when the sour taste in our mouth has been caused by another person. Dealing with betrayal, a lie told about us, or any other type of hurt caused by another human being is an area where we often miss the mark. Of course, we want to show God how much we love Him, but loving human beings who hurt us can present a problem at times. They say that hurting people hurt people. I know for a fact that this is truth to the tenth power. How do we display love, yet express our hurt and disappointment? Take it to the specialist. Before we deal with anyone else about their junk, we have to do business with God about ours. It stings when we have to face our own shortcomings especially when we are eager to find a place to throw the blame. Every time we try to solve an interpersonal problem by pointing fingers we have to be mindful of the three fingers pointing back to us. We are the common denominator in all of our relationships. You may feel like the issue you’re facing had nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. That might be true, but your response is 100% up to you. You can choose to respond after you have done business with God or you can fly off the handle. You can choose to pray for your enemies in spite of the way they treat you or risk cursing yourself by cursing them. The choice is up to you. Clean up some unfinished business with someone who has hurt you. It could be a recent hurt or something you’ve been holding onto for years. Pray and ask God to show you what responsibility you bear in the matter. Repent and then begin to ask him for a game plan on how to make amends. You may need to apologize. You might have to repay a debt. At the end of the day, your goal is to begin the process of mending a broken relationship. You don’t have to clean up the entire mess in one day, just get started and God will honor your steps of faith.

One of the worst consequences of fear is that when it strikes it causes us to assume the worst. We fail the exam and we think we will never get a good job. We get dumped, or go through a divorce, and assume we will always be on our own. If we let it, fear takes over and runs wild in our minds, and we begin to invent worst-case scenarios. Fear causes us to have vision without optimism, to see a future without hope. There is a famous story in Matthew 8 in which Jesus is hanging out with his disciples on a boat. He is asleep when a storm hits, and immediately the disciples run to Jesus to wake him up and say, ‘Jesus! Don’t you care that we are going to drown?’ Bear in mind that at this point they are still safe on the boat; they are not in the water, yet they are visualizing their deaths. This is what fear does. It dictates a false reality and causes us to assume the worst. What we give attention to, we also give authority to. So the key is to shift our focus, and this will allow us to shift our fear, because whereas fear may well be present, we don’t need to allow it to be president of our mind. Let’s say we go to the famous Kings Cross train station in London. We can get on one train to the North of England or we can get on another train to Paris. One station, two trains, with two entirely different destinations. It is exactly the same with our mind. We can get on one ‘train of thought’ that focuses on the situation and gives way to fear; that is the train of doubt and negativity and the destination is defeat. Or we can shift our focus and fix our minds on the Word of Jesus; that is the train of faith and hope and the destination is victory. Today, look for opportunities to shift your focus. Like the author of the Psalm says, God can free us from all our fears, it just requires a shift in focus. God is stronger than our situation, more powerful than our problem, so let’s focus on him, rather than what is intimidating us.

If you're anything like me, you've come to realize that focusing on Jesus isn't always an easy thing. There are so many distractions in this world that we treat as idols and we don't even recognize it. How many times have you been given an opportunity but your focus quickly falls off Jesus? In our modern day and age we're more focused on what we want the way we want it. We want our desires in a fast, easy, and comfortable way. Most of us have no problem doing Jesus' work as long as it fits into our schedule. We're basically a modern day Peter. We are so focused on the wind, the storm, and depth of the water that we forgot our Savior has called us to do the impossible. Imagine if Peter kept his focus on Jesus the entire time. What other impossible things would he have been able to accomplish? Today I encourage you to focus less on the wind. Let's try to worry less about the busy part of life and overcome the doubt that the world is trying to sell. Let's try to focus more on Jesus. Think on this: What are a few things you're doing daily that can be replaced by focusing on Jesus?

If you’re scared to give generously, whether your time to serve others or your money to spread the gospel, Paul’s words are exactly what you need. “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Paul is all about the fear-erasing “alls.” “In all things at all times.” Good times, bad times. Tuition times, tax times. Got a raise times, lost my job times. That time and this time. God will bless you through it all. “Having all that you need.” All the promises you need—the presence of God, the power of God, mercy of God, the grace of God, the Spirit of God, the Son of God. All your heart really needs to be happy, to have hope, to breathe, to be blessed is God, and you have him because Jesus brought you back to him. So “you will abound in every good work.” With God, you’re not scraping by in life. No bare minimums. No, you are abounding! Doing the exact works God lined up for you to do. This church to support. This poor family member to feed. This neighbor in need. If you’re scared to give, remember that giving is like farming. A generous life is like a seed. And the God who created the sun and rain will provide it all to make that seed grow.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Strong words. A sober warning. If we live in pride, God warns us, “You are headed for destruction. You are headed for a fall.” We may not know when, where, or how the fall will come. It may not come fully until we die, but the fall will come. Sooner or later, we will be humbled. But what exactly is pride? Pride is when we rely upon ourselves rather than God. When we live for ourselves rather than God. When we are preoccupied with ourselves rather than God. Pride is when we refuse to humble ourselves before God and obey his commands. When we draw attention to ourselves and promote ourselves. When we think we are responsible for the good things in our lives. Pride is when we strut around and act as if we were God. Unfortunately, none of us is immune to pride. All of us are infected by the insidious plague of pride—a malady that is self-destructive, for pride inevitably leads to destruction. C.S. Lewis once described the sin of pride: According to Christian teachers the essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through pride that the devil became the devil: pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride is the mother hen under which all other sins are hatched. Pride is the essence of sin. Sin is fundamentally self-centeredness. Pride keeps more people out of the kingdom of God than anything else. The great Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., once said, “The great act of faith is when man decides that he is not God.” Well put. Recognize that you are not God, and decide to live your life for the one who is God, Jesus Christ.

Imagine, for a moment, a man, ever isolated, living alone in the mountains perhaps. Imagine him living a vigorous, adventurous, spiritual life, but lacking community. The knowledge this man would have of God, the knowledge he’d have of himself, would be modest compared to the knowledge he’d have of both, were he to have full access to relationships, friendships, brotherhood. You see, the isolated man may know about God. But, no matter how much he might read and study, he cannot know God. That takes community. We get to know God by seeing his Holy Spirit moving in others. We encounter God, we experience Him, we understand Him when He works through the love and sacrifice of other people. In brotherhood, we get to show God to one another. And, the more we’re in community with brothers, the deeper our understanding becomes. The isolated man may also know about himself—his talents, his likes, his dislikes. But, he cannot know himself. He cannot know the man God intends him to become. That too takes community. It takes others around him, who know his story, who spend time with him, who watch him, to discern and affirm and call forth things true and eternal in him, things God longs for to emerge. It takes brotherhood to call forth the true man. Though we live in cities and towns, many of us are yet like the man isolated in the mountains. We know about God, but we don’t know Him. We know the men we’d like to be, but we don’t know the men He created us to be. This message, right now, is another call for brotherhood. It’s a call for you, brother, to get into community with other men. Find some brothers; find your place.

We men love to measure things. And we have, at our disposal, highly accurate gauges for measuring just about anything, including the progress of our lives. I mean, we never have to wonder which careers are most prestigious; which jobs are most coveted; which neighborhoods are most exclusive; which vacations are most glamorous; which cars are most luxurious. Our culture makes sure its gauges remain well calibrated. “Listen carefully . . . and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world . . .” (Mark 4:24 MSG) The problem is, such things are not proper for measuring the progress of any life. There’s nothing wrong with careers or communities or cars, in-and-of themselves. They’re just not appropriate gauges in this context. Using them is like using a thermometer to measure the weight of a steel beam. It doesn’t work. Likewise, improper gauges won’t work for us, for measuring our lives as men. We must create and calibrate new gauges, ones that can properly measure our lives, because they measure the right stuff—like how we’re doing as husbands, as fathers, as friends, as neighbors; and how we’re doing toward becoming the men God intends us to become. Build new gauges for yourself, brother, ones that measure things like . . . how many nights you are home for dinner; or how often you sit down and pray with your wife or girlfriend; or how often you have conversations with your sons or daughters about their dreams or their fears; or how often you meet with brothers in community; or how often you drop what you’re doing to spend time with friends in need. Get practical. Build a simple spreadsheet, for example. Or create a calendar. Do what makes sense for you, but start measuring, today.

God loves us—just as we are, right now. Wow. That’s kind of difficult to accept, isn’t it? I mean, it’s hard to feel worthy of that love, with all our mistakes, our imperfections. Don’t we need to be perfect and holy too, just as He is, before He can love us? No, brother, He loves us—just as we are, right now. If we’re ever going to understand God, if we’re ever going to understand ourselves, in relation to God, we’re going to have to bend our minds toward that truth. He is perfect and holy; we are not. True. What’s not true is that, because of His perfection, He’s drawn only to more perfection. What’s not true is that, because of His holiness, He demands our holiness before He’ll love us, accept us, want anything to do with us. God knows our mistakes, every imperfection. Nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). And, actually, precisely because He knows, He executed the ultimate act of love: He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our King and to save us from our mistakes and imperfections (Romans 5:8). So, the truth is—like a doctor to the sick—He’s actually drawn to imperfection and sin (Mark 2:17). Our relationships with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, begin to work when we accept and welcome that love. Throughout this week, take these words as God’s promise, just to you. Meditate upon them. Let them sink in deep. “. . . neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [me] from the love of God in Christ Jesus . . .” (Romans 8:38-39)

In the end, all the small things you do make a big difference. Life isn’t about a single moment of great triumph and attainment. It’s about the trials and errors that slowly get you there—the blood, the sweat, the tears, and the small, inconsequential things you do on a day-to-day basis. It all matters in the end—every step, every regret, every decision, every minor setback and minuscule win. The seemingly insignificant happenings add up to something. The minimum-wage job you had in high school. The evenings you spent socializing with coworkers you never see anymore. The hours you spent writing thoughts on a personal blog no one reads. Contemplations about elaborate future plans that never came to be. All those lonely nights spent reading novels and news columns and social media posts, questioning your own principles on life and sex and politics and religion, and whether or not you’re good enough just the way you are. All of this has strengthened you. All of this has led you to every success you’ve ever had. All of this has made you who you are today. And all of this proves that you have the strength and resilience to deal with the challenges in front of you. But first, you need to get your thinking straight. Most of us stubbornly refuse to acknowledge and admit everything we've been through, and how these trials and errors have moved our lives forward. Don't do this to yourself today. Don't deny your story. Own your story! Change your thinking! You've been through a lot, and you've grown a lot too. Give yourself more credit for how far you've come, so you can step forward again with grace. Remind yourself that the mind is your battleground: ... the place where the fiercest and most ruthless conflict resides. ... where half of the things you feared were going to happen, never actually happen. ... where your expectations always get the best of you. ... where you fall victim to your own train of thought time and time again. If you allow these self-defeating thoughts to dwell in your mind, they will succeed in robbing you of peace, joy, productivity, meaning, and ultimately your life. The bottom line is that you are what you think! And you can’t change anything in your life if you can’t change your thinking.

Now is the time to restore intimacy with God back into your life. The enemy's plan is to kill, steal, and destroy intimacy in all relationships, beginning with the most important one: your relationship with God. It is God's plan to restore intimacy with you, making you strong, steady, secure, and sure. His pathway of intimacy is life-breathing, life-giving. In His presence, you will be filled to the fullness of joy, and all provisions needed for your intimacy journey will be provided. Your "sit place with God" can be both visual and physical. Find a place where you can sit with God daily. It is in this sit place that you first worship Him and then share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Pause in His presence. Wait for Him, don't rush this time. First, to receive His care and comfort for your struggle. Second, to receive His truth, to know the path to take that will offer you the help, healing, or hope you so desperately need. This is not a time of monologue, but of dialogue. It is the honoring of both your voice and His voice. Your response in obedience to what He shares with you is your love back to Him. First, create your "sit place with God." Meet with God daily, even throughout the day and night to share your heart and listen to His heart. Second, invite Jesus daily into all your relationships and situations. His presence will give you peace, joy, hope, and so much more versus what the world has to offer in stress, anxiety, depression, and many other emotional struggles. Remove all "Do Not Enter" signs, giving Him access to your whole life. Third, obey what He speaks to your heart. From this loved placed, He will share His truth that will set you free.