Purpose Without Apology

When I first launched Purpose Without Apology on September 23, 2019, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that God was moving me to share my faith with the world in a new way, so I took a step of faith and was obedient to His call. Over the past two and a half years, the Lord has used this podcast to grow me, challenge me, and lead me to places and people that I probably never would have encountered otherwise. It's been quite a journey to say the least. As we close out our 5th season of the podcast, I wanted to take a moment to look back and celebrate what God has done.

Guiding Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:5 - “But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go…”All throughout this season, I've been talking about the importance of telling your story, and I've been giving other people the chance to share theirs right here on the podcast. In this episode, I'm going to “walk the talk” and share my own testimony of how God performed a miracle and blessed my family with a brand-new home. I'm also sharing 4 lessons from my story that can radically change your life. This isn't about bragging; it's about giving God glory for what He's done. Something Big is Coming: In May 2020, the Lord told me in prayer that we were going to buy a home soon and to think about what I wanted. In April, I felt a strong desire for my husband and I to take steps to improve our credit, and I purchased a course to do that.A Chance Encounter: That summer, my husband and I ran into a friend of mine at a local park who was a real estate agent. We hadn't seen her in years. We casually mentioned that we were interested in buying “sometime over the next year or so.”It's Time to Go: At the end of October, the property manager at the house we rented emailed us to ask if we wanted to purchase the property. When we declined, he informed us that the owner intended to sell and that we would need to vacate the property within the next 30 days.A 30-Day Whirlwind: We reconnected with our real estate agent friend, and with her help, we were able to find a new build, find an apartment to live in while the house was being built, and move within 30 days. We moved the weekend after Thanksgiving.Temporary Discomfort: We chose to move into an apartment that was much smaller than the home we'd rented, and lived there for 7 months while our kids were in virtual school and we worked from home. It definitely stretched us as a family!A New Beginning: In the summer of 2021, we closed on our home, got the keys, and moved again for the 2nd time in a year. We had a small housewarming ceremony in October of that year, and it was a deeply emotional moment. God. Is. Good.4 lessons learned from the process:God's plans really are better than ours (1 Corinthians 2:9). His “not right now” often means a better “yes” later.God gives grace for the doors that He opens.When God opens a door for you, it's often not just for you.God's timing may not be comfortable, but it's perfect.Action Step: When was the last time God has opened a miracle door for you, either big or small? Have you told anyone about it? Think back to Season 5, Episode 85 (“The Power of Telling Your Story”), and consider how that testimony might encourage someone else. Then, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities to share it.

This season on Purpose Without Apology, I'm featuring a segment called “Behind the Book,” where I interview Christian authors about their writing process and how they found the courage to write their stories. This week's guest is a phenomenal woman of God named Petra Pindar, and she is the author of not one, but two incredible books called #FaithGoals and Hey, Pretty! Petra Pindar is a speaker, author, faith influencer and native of Gainesville, Florida. She also graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in English and earned her Juris Doctorate from the Levin College of Law. However, her passion is the call that God has placed on her heart to encourage women of all ages to seek Christ in their everyday connections and interactions. To fulfill this calling she founded the nonprofit Petra Pindar, Inc. She enjoys being married to her "once in a lifetime", Robert, and Mama to her 3 miracles; Jackson, Sterling and Everly.There are some people you meet, and when you're around them, you're automatically strengthened and pushed into another level of faith and love for God. Petra Pindar is one of those people. She is a powerful example of what can happen when we fully invite God into every aspect of our lives, including our writing process. I'm grateful to welcome her onto the podcast today.

Disclaimer: Lisa Gant is not a medical expert and the content of this episode is meant for informational purposes only. It should not be used to make a diagnosis and is no substitute for professional medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know is showing signs of addiction, please seek professional help from a trusted medical expert.

Trigger Warning: Non-graphic descriptions of infant deathGuiding Scripture: Exodus 1:17 - “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”When most Christians think about the Book of Exodus in the Bible, they focus on the story of Moses and how God used him to miraculously deliver of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. However, Moses wasn't the only person God used to deliver His people. Two Hebrew women named Shiphrah and Puah became instruments of God's saving power as well, and their story is also worth telling. Today, we're learning about the unique way that Shiphrah and Puah saved their people before Moses was even born.Just as God loves to use our small beginnings, Satan tries to kill our beginnings while they are still small.Exodus 1:8-10 - “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. ‘Look,” he said to his people, ‘the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.'”As a result, great deliverance is often connected to great oppression.Exodus 1:11-14 details the pain and suffering the Egyptians caused the Israelites and how it was directly tied to their increasing numbers.Matthew 1:16 tells us that King Herod caused a similar tragedy in Jerusalem after Jesus was born because he was afraid that Jesus would grow up and take his throne.Sometimes obeying God means defying people in power.In Exodus 1:15-16, we learn that Pharaoh specifically instructed Shiphrah and Puah to kill any Hebrew boys that were born, but to let the girls live.The Bible tells us to respect God-ordained authority (Romans 13:1-2). However, obedience to God is our first priority. If the Holy Spirit directs us to stand for God, we must do so (see Season 4, Episode 77).Sometimes your legacy as a believer is tied to what you kill. Other times, it's tied to what you allow to live. Now, this is not a reference to people. You might kill toxic mindsets or generational curses, for example, while allowing the dreams God has given you for your future to live.Obeying God can put you at risk.Exodus 1:19 - “The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”God can take the very thing that the enemy tries to kill and cause it to flourish.Exodus 1:20-21 - “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”Action Step: In Episode 92, we talked about the importance of small beginnings. Is there anything in your life that the enemy is trying to “kill” while it's still small? Ask God to help you identify things that you're tempted to give up on and then strengthen you enough to allow them to live. 

Guiding Scripture: Zechariah 4:10 - “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand.”We live in a world that doesn't really value small things. In general, we pay more attention to people who have massive bank accounts, huge houses, and a lot of material things. We flock to influencers who have amassed a large following. Here in America, we even like our food portion sizes to be bigger. However, God doesn't operate that way. In His kingdom, the last becomes first, the weak are made strong, and the biggest miracles come from small beginnings. Today, you'll learn how to identify your own small beginning and embrace it as a critical part of your story.Small beginnings start with a need.John 6:5 - “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?'”John 6:7 - “Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'”Note: Your need must be something that's out of your control. If you repeatedly refuse to create and stick to a budget, for example, you don't need a financial miracle from God; you need discipline.Small beginnings don't make logical sense.John 6:8-9 - “Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'”Small beginnings multiply with God's blessing.John 6:13 - “So they gathered them [the leftover pieces] and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”What to do with your small beginning:Be still and get instructions from God. (John 6:10)Use what you have. (John 6:8-9)Put what you have in God's hands. (John 6:11)Don't let anything go to waste. (John 6:12-13)God prefers small beginnings because they bring the most glory to Him.John 6:14 - “After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.'”Action Step: Based on what you've learned in this episode, identify at least one area in your life that looks like a “small beginning.” How can you honor God in that area now as you wait for Him to move? Ask Him for instructions about how to best steward what He has given you.

Guiding Scripture: Genesis 29:16-17 - “Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.”In my humble opinion, anyone who says the Bible is boring clearly hasn't read the book of Genesis. There is more drama, deception, and backstabbing in those chapters than in any soap opera on TV today, and nowhere is that drama more evident than in the story of Rachel and Leah. Between the two of them, these rival sisters became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel, and their story is proof-positive that God can use literally anyone for His purposes, no matter how broken, bitter, or discouraged we may be. Rachel and Leah were both victims of their father Laban's deceit.In Genesis 29, Jacob falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, Laban gives his older daughter Leah to Jacob during the marriage ceremony instead, deceiving him.Leah was forced to marry a man who was in love with her sister, while Rachel was forced to watch them be married for seven years and then share Jacob with Leah forever.Rachel and Leah were both unhappy in their marriage for different reasons.Genesis 29:31 sums up the sisters' predicament: Leah was fertile but unloved, while Rachel was loved but infertile.The sisters' desires made them bitter rivals.Leah literally names her children based on her desire to be loved by Jacob (Genesis 29:32-34, Genesis 30:17-20).Rachel literally tells Jacob that she would rather die than be unable to conceive (Genesis 30:1).Later, when her servant Bilhah conceives (more on that later), she names the child Naphtali, which means my struggle because she said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” (Genesis 30:7-8)They used manipulation to get what they wanted.Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob to sleep with so she could have children through her (Genesis 30:3).Later, after she stops having children, Leah does the same thing with her servant Zilpah (Genesis 30:9).During the wheat harvest season, Leah gave Rachel mandrakes (which were believed at that time to improve fertility) in order to have a night to sleep with Jacob (Genesis 30:16).They both put their desires ahead of God—and paid a heavy price for it.Leah never received the love from Jacob that she wanted so badly. In fact, his favoritism for Rachel extends to her children and causes great conflict among their sons (which is another story for another day).Although the Lord eventually gave Rachel two sons, her second delivery was so difficult that she died in childbirth, and named her son, Ben-Oni as a result (which means “son of my trouble”).Despite their flaws, God heard—and honored—both of their prayers.The Lord enabled Leah to conceive because he saw that she was unloved (Genesis 29:31).Similarly, the Lord “remembered” Rachel and “listened to her” so that she conceived many years later (Genesis 30:22).Action Step: Has there ever been a time when you felt unloved or unappreciated by others? Or, have you ever received favoritism that you didn't earn? How did that situation make you feel? Were you tempted to believe that everything would be better if your situation was different? Did you try to change things on your own, or did you submit your concerns to God? How might you handle things differently if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future?

Guiding Scripture: Romans 10:15 - “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”When many people think about sharing their stories with others, they feel overwhelmed and intimidated. They worry about what they will say and whether or not they'll be rejected for it. Some even wonder if they have a story worth telling. I'm here to tell you that your story is more valuable than you know. Today, we're going to talk about how to embrace your story and move forward in telling it with confidence. Recognize that God is sending you.John 20:21 - “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'”When you know that God Himself, the creator of the universe, is sending you as His ambassador for His kingdom, it empowers you because you realize that you are representing Him, not yourself.Value your uniqueness.Psalm 139:14 - “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”There has never been a person in the entire world who looks, thinks, sounds, acts, or feels like you do. You had a 1 in 400 trillion chance of being born. No one else can share your story in exactly the way you can. Be authentic.Be careful about filtering your story based on what other people might think. Sometimes the parts of your story that you feel ashamed of are the parts that can bring freedom to others.At the same time, use wisdom about what you share and with whom you share it. There's a fine line between being transparent and oversharing.Understand that the need is great.Matthew 9:37-38 - “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'”Be confident that the Holy Spirit will help you tell your story.Luke 12:12 - “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”Matthew 10:20 - “for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”1 Corinthians 3:7-9 - “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.”Many of us put pressure on ourselves to tell our stories “perfectly,” but Scripture allows us to completely take the pressure off of ourselves. It is the Holy Spirit who brings people to the Cross; our job is only to show them the way.Action Step: Ask yourself honestly if you are embracing your testimony and looking for ways to share it with others. If so, how can you apply the principles in today's episode to be even more effective? If you're not sharing it, what can you do differently to get more comfortable with doing so? Ask the Holy Spirit for boldness to help you with this process.

Guiding Scripture: Genesis 16:13 - “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[a] the One who sees me.'”Hidden in the pages of Genesis, in-between a well-told narrative about the faith of Abraham and Sarah, lies the story of an Egyptian slave named Hagar. We don't know much about her aside from her connection to Abraham and Sarah, and she is often used as a cautionary tale about what happens when you try to get ahead of God's timing. However, the reality is that Hagar's story is far more complex, and we'll be exploring some of those complexities today. Hagar was a victim of circumstances outside of her control.She was an enslaved Egyptian woman who was forced to sleep with Abraham so she could conceive a son for Sarah (Genesis 16:1-3).We know Hagar wasn't happy about this because she hated Sarah after she got pregnant (Genesis 16:4).Hagar's story shows how others can be hurt by our disobedience. Sarah mistreated Hagar after she got pregnant by Abraham, so much so that Hagar ran away from her (Genesis 16:6).Years later, after Sarah had given birth to Isaac and saw Ishmael mocking him, she demanded that both Hagar and Ishmael be sent away into the desert (Genesis 21:9-10).Some Biblical scholars suggest that since Hagar was Egyptian, she may have been one of the slaves given to Abraham after his time in Egypt (Genesis 12:16)---when he lied about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife. In other words, Hagar might not have even been available for Abraham to sleep with if he hadn't deceived Pharaoh in Egypt.God saw Hagar and cared about her when others didn't.The Angel of the Lord appears to Hagar, signifying her importance to Him (Genesis 16:7).Although God tells Hagar to go back to Sarah, he never rebukes or shames her for her situation. In fact, he blesses her and gives her son the name Ishmael, which means “God hears” (Genesis 16:9-11).God can and does use our brokenness for His glorious purposes.When Joseph is sold as a slave by his brothers several generations later, the men who purchase him are Ishmaelities, the descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 37:28). Action Step: Consider the moments in your life when you've felt like an outsider. Did you ever feel like God didn't know about your struggles, or even worse—didn't care about them? Take some time in prayer today to talk with God about those moments and ask Him to heal you from that pain. Also, consider getting Christian-based counseling to help you process that rejection in a healthy way.

Guiding Scripture: Revelation 12:11 - “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”Everyone has a story—including you—and your story is completely, one hundred percent unique to you. There is no one in the world who shares your exact combination of gifts, flaws, experiences, or opinions. God designed you with all of these things in mind, and His plan is for your story to have a powerful impact on the world. So the question is, are you ready to tell your story without apology?What is your story?It's either a challenge you've overcome or something good that you've achieved.It impacts other people around you in some way, either in religious or secular spaces or both.It always brings glory and honor to God.Ex. My story about depressionWhy it's important to tell your story:It brings glory to God. (Matthew 5:16)It is part of the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8)It encourages and strengthens everyone who hears it (Revelation 12:11).It is healing for us to share our stories. (James 5:16)3 ways to tell your story in 2022:Share your story. This is probably the easiest and most accessible way to tell your story with others. It simply involves you telling people in your sphere of influence what God has done for you, such as friends, family members, coworkers, etc.Write your story. This doesn't literally have to be in the form of a book. It can also include blog posts, plays, movies, songs, paintings, or any other art form that God inspires you to use.Declare your story. This often involves a form of public speaking.4 signs you may be ready to tell your story:You've gone through Christian-based therapy or counseling to help you heal from any trauma you've experienced. You have a healthy community that is supportive and encourages you to tell it.You have a strong sense of boundaries concerning what you feel comfortable sharing.You feel that God is prompting you to share it.Key Point: At the end of the day, only you know for sure if you're really ready to tell your story. Never let anyone pressure you into sharing before you're ready.Action Step: Take at least 30 minutes to spend quiet time with God, and ask Him what testimony He has given you that you can share with the world. If you see the signs listed above in your own life and feel comfortable, begin moving forward with sharing your story, following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Guiding Scripture: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)As women, we usually do a lot of juggling in our households. Many of us have to manage working, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children and other family members. With so much that is expected of us, deep rest can often feel like something that's always just out of our reach. But what if it's possible to live in a constant state of resting in God? And even better, what if I told you that God designed you to live this way?Resting is much more than just sleep; it's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, too.Physical: Self-care, i.e., eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, drinking water, etc.Mental: Getting counseling to maintain good mental health, using discernment on social mediaEmotional: Spending time with close friends and familySpiritual: Spending quiet time with God, reading the Bible, worshipRemember the acronym R.E.S.T.: “Remain Everyday Steady and Trusting”Remain: “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)Everyday: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8)Steady: They [the righteous] will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. (Psalm 112:7-8)Trusting: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)Resting requires boundaries. (Luke 10:42) You have to make it a priority over other things.A warning: If you don't make time for resting now, you will be forced to rest later.Rest looks different in different stages of life. Resting in God is like any other habit; it's something you develop gradually over time. You must always be intentional about pursuing rest.Action Step: In which areas of your life have you been lacking rest? If you had to pick one area of your life that could benefit most from rest, what would it be? Set aside time to pray and ask God to show you how to rest in Him.

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, a well-known leader in the personal and professional development industry, famously said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." Most of the time, you choose who those people are, but sometimes God chooses for you.How to know that God is changing your social circle:You start feeling uncomfortable around your current circle.This discomfort can take many forms, but often it shows up as a sense that you no longer belong. Things may irritate you that didn't bother you before, for example.Conflict increases between you and your circle, often seemingly out of nowhere.This is different from the normal conflict that occurs in every relationship. Don't let an aversion to conflict convince you that a relationship is over.Your support system begins criticizing you, claiming that “you've changed.”You meet new people who you connect with easily, and who have a positive impact on you.This often happens when God wants to increase your responsibility.You are “reintroduced” to people you already knew, but now you see them in a different light or get to know them on a deeper level.What to do once you realize God is changing your social circle:Identify what God is saying through these changes.For example, I struggle with confrontation, so God has been pushing me to take an active role in ending certain relationships lately, instead of just passively pulling away.Make sure that God is pushing the change and not the enemy.Accept that you may not completely understand why God is changing certain things until later, if at all.Acknowledge how the changes make you feel.Embrace the changes and believe that God's plans are best (Jeremiah 29:11).What not to do:Fight the change by either holding onto the old or rejecting the new.Isolate yourself from people in general.Cut off people when God didn't tell you to.Key Point: There's a difference between following God and acting out of your own bitterness, unforgiveness, or immaturity. If your social circle changes every year, you are the problem.Action Step: Get out a sheet of paper and divide it into 3 columns. In the first column, list the top 5-10 people in your life right now. In the second column, write a few words that describe the positive traits each of these people brings to your life. In the third column, write the positive things that you contribute to their lives. How do Columns 2 and 3 compare? Do they feel balanced? Are you happy with who is on your list? If not, what are some changes you could make today to improve things?

We all say we want to live our lives with purpose, bringing glory to God and expanding His kingdom on the earth. And yet, Jesus tells us over and over again throughout Scripture that the life of a Christian isn't an easy one. Here are 5 things that pursuing purpose can cost you. Are you ready to pay the price?Purpose can cost you popularity.Galatians 1:10Purpose can cost you comfort.Luke 9:23 Purpose can cost you relationships.Matthew 10:34-35Purpose can cost you resources.Proverbs 3:9-10Purpose can even cost you your life.Luke 9:24With the exception of John, all of the 12 disciples are believed to have died violent deaths, many as martyrs for the Christian faith.Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen, who is widely considered the first Christian martyr.Estimates vary widely regarding persecuted Christians today, but most faith-based organizations believe that anywhere between 10,000 and 90,000 Christians around the world are martyred for their faith every year. Could you be one of them?Here are 4 rewards that pursuing purpose can give you:Purpose brings you closer to God.John 14:21Purpose will give you protection.Psalm 91Purpose can give you prosperity.Joshua 1:8Purpose will give you peace.Psalm 119:165Action Step: Take some quiet time to meditate on how you may (or may not) be pursuing your God-given purpose. Which areas have you devoted to God? Which areas do you still need to submit to Him? Spend 30 minutes brainstorming, and then ask God to help you fully surrender to His purpose for your life.

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 27:13-14 - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (NLT)God's timing is always different from ours.Isaiah 55:8-9 - “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”2 Peter 3:8 - “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”The wait is long to build up our faith.James 1:2-3  - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”The wait is long to make us mature.James 1:4 - “Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”The wait is long so our motives can be revealed.Genesis 22:12 - “‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.'”  The wait is long so that God can get more glory.Exodus 3:19-20 - “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.”What to do while you're waiting (the ABC's of waiting):Anticipate what God will do: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)Be still: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)Celebrate what God is doing right now: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4)Action Step: What is one area where you are waiting on God to break through or bring change in your life?

Guiding Scripture: Proverbs 29:18 - “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction.”Research shows that while about 60 percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions every year, only about 8 percent of them actually keep them. Now, I'm no goal setting expert, but I suspect that part of the reason for this discrepancy is because having goals is not the same as having a vision.Goal (via Merriam-Webster) - something that you are trying to do or achieveVision (via Merriam-Webster) - something that you imagine: a picture that you see in your mindTake time to pray and ask God about His vision for your life.Proverbs 16:3 - “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”Seek guidance about your vision from mentors and trusted advisors, especially involving major decisions.Proverbs 15:22 - “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”Write (or print) your vision plan and review it often.Habakkuk 2:2 - “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”Be flexible and willing to adjust your vision plan when necessary.Proverbs 19:21 - “Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.”5 categories to include in your vision plan:Your relationship with God.Your relationships with family and friends.Your finances.Your health.Your career.Action Step: Schedule time before the new year to do “vision casting” with your family (or an accountability partner if you're single). Write (or type) out the vision and submit it to God in prayer, and be willing to make adjustments as the Lord leads.References:"Vacant Vision: See It Before You See It" - Sermon from Michael Todd, Transformation Church

Guiding Scripture: Nehemiah 4:15 - “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.”We've already talked about the Book of Nehemiah from a broad, overarching perspective. This time, we're looking at the role that opposition plays in the events of Nehemiah, and how we can respond when opposition happens in our own lives.The enemy opposes us through ridicule (Nehemiah 4:1-3).Nehemiah responds by:Praying (Nehemiah 4:4-5)Continuing to rebuild (Nehemiah 4:6)Guarding the weakest points of the wall (Nehemiah 4:22-23)When we face ridicule, we should respond by asking God for help, persistence, and by staying vigilant against attack.The enemy opposes us through distraction (Nehemiah 6:1-2).Nehemiah responds by:Standing firm and staying focused (Nehemiah 6:3-4)When we face distraction, we should respond by remembering our commitment to the work God has called us to do.The enemy opposes us through intimidation (Nehemiah 6:5-7, 6:17-19).Nehemiah responds by:Praying (Nehemiah 6:9-10, 6:14)Identifying the deception involved (Nehemiah 6:12-13)Again, continuing and completing the work (Nehemiah 6:15)Surrounding himself with people he can trust (Nehemiah 7:2-3)When we face intimidation, we should respond by taking our concerns to God, using discernment and wisdom, and leaning on trustworthy friends for support.Note: The enemy we see is never the actual enemy we're fighting. Christians don't fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and although the battles we fight aren't easy to overcome, God promises to give us the victory if we trust Him (2 Corinthians 10:4).Action Step: Identify the areas in your life where you may be experiencing spiritual opposition right now. Which strategy is the enemy using, and how have you been responding to the attacks? Pray and ask God for the right response to use in your situation, and thank Him for giving you the victory in advance!

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 89:6-7 - “For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.”As believers, we often talk about God in terms of His function in our lives, or to put it another way, what He can do for us. However, as we mature in our faith, it's important for us to recognize the nature of who God is outside of our personal preferences. What are some of the most important character traits of God, and how do those character traits help us understand Him better? Let's talk about it today.God is holy.Isaiah 6:1-5 - In these verses, the prophet Isaiah describes a vision of God on his throne, and the central theme here is the overwhelming holiness of God.God's holiness makes Him altogether different from us as created beings. We cannot compare to Him; no one can. When we realize this, our natural reaction should be reverence, worship, and repentance (Isaiah 6:5).The takeaway: Because God is holy and set apart, we won't always understand what He does or why He does it, and we shouldn't.God is sovereign.Jeremiah 32:17 - “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”God is “all the alls”---all-knowing (omniscient), all-present (omnipresent), and all-powerful (omnipotent).The takeaway: Because God is sovereign, we can trust that He is always in control, no matter how challenging our circumstances are.God is consistent.Malachi 3:6 - “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”Numbers 23:19 - “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”The takeaway: Because God is consistent, we know that He will never let us down.God is faithful to His Word.Isaiah 55:11 - “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”The takeaway: Because God is faithful to His Word, we can trust in His promises to us. If we obey, He will always bring them to pass.God is good.Psalm 136:1 - “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”God's goodness is about more than just the good things He gives us, or the bad things He protects us from. It's about His love for us and how He shows that love.God may not always seem good because of the things He allows, but we can trust that He is because His nature is a loving one (1 John 4:16).The takeaway: Because God is good, I know that everything He does in my life, both good and bad, is for my good (Romans 8:28).Action Step: Which of the 5 attributes of God is most comforting to you right now? Which one is hardest for you to accept? Do a Bible study of the character trait that most challenges your view of God, searching for Scriptures that justify that trait in Him.

Guiding Scripture: Daniel 6:4 - “At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”The book of Daniel might be one of the most mysterious and intriguing books in  the entire Bible. It's full of strange and fantastical imagery and prophecies of the future, but it also tells the story of four brave young Hebrew men who chose over and over again to stand for God, even when it was unpopular---and sometimes deadly---to do so. Those of us who live in the safety and freedom of the Western World will find it difficult to truly understand the danger that Daniel and his friends faced. Still, there are important lessons we can learn from their experiences, and that's what we'll be talking about today.Lesson #1: You can't eat what the people in Babylon eat.Daniel 1:8 - “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”Lesson #2: You need the favor of God in order to be effective.When Daniel asked for permission not to eat the king's food, he received favor from the chief official (Daniel 1:9). This made it possible for Daniel to present the terms of the 10-day test regarding his diet.Lesson #3: Godly wisdom is critical, especially during moments of crisis.Daniel could have simply thrown a tantrum and refused to eat the king's food, but instead, he suggested a test (Daniel 1:12-13) that appealed to the Babylonians' appreciation for logic and education (Daniel 1:4).Later, when Nebuchadnezzar gave an order to have all of his advisers killed, the Bible says that Daniel found Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, and “spoke to him with wisdom and tact.” (Daniel 2:14)Lesson #4: Pursue excellence with everything you do in Babylon.Daniel and his friends distinguished themselves from their peers by being exceptional in their work, which led to them receiving even more favor than before (Daniel 1:19-20).Lesson #5: Taking a stand for God should give Him glory, not you.Daniel not only worshipped God privately for answering his prayers (Daniel 2:19-23), but also credited Him publicly at the first opportunity (Daniel 2:27-28).Not only that, but King Nebuchadnezzar recognized God's power and sovereignty as well (Daniel 2:47).You may need to engage in some deep self-reflection to determine whether you're truly hoping to please God with your actions. If your stand for God causes you to feel self-righteous or superior to others, it's coming from your flesh, rather than the Spirit.Action Step: Have you ever had to take a stand for God in a way that wasn't popular with the people around you? If so, what did you do and say in that situation? If not, ask God for the courage to stand in a way that honors Him if the need arises.

Guiding Scripture: Joshua 1:6 - “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”In the book of Joshua, God leads the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” As believers, we all have things that represent our own Promised Land, an area where God has made promises to us that He will fulfill in His timing. For some Christians, the Promised Land means being the first person in their family to earn a college degree. For others, it means getting married or having a child after years of infertility. No matter what your Promised Land may be, one thing is certain: it is never smooth sailing. We frequently talk about the challenge of enduring the storms of the Christian life, but we spend far less time talking about the challenges of stewarding God's promises once He brings them to pass. That's what today's episode is all about.In your Promised Land, you can expect to receive new instructions from the Lord.Joshua 1:2 - “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.”A new level of consecration.Joshua 5:2 - “At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.' So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.”New levels of spiritual warfare.Joshua 10:25 - “Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.'”New temptations (and possibly old ones!).Joshua 7:1 - “But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel.”New victories and blessings from God.Joshua 1:3,5 - “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses... No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”Note: When you have a strong relationship with the Lord, He will often warn you about many of these things before they happen so you can prepare ahead of time.Action Step: Based on the factors outlined in this episode, are you seeing God's promises manifesting in your life right now? If not, ask Him to speak to you about how He is preparing you for them, and what you can do to partner with Him in the process.

It is my joy, my privilege, and my honor to release a new collaboration with some of my favorite sisters in the Lord: Torrie Slaughter from Our Given Purpose, Casey Alexis from Being Eve, and Stephanie Bright from Christians Girls Pop. In this episode, we're all talking about what it means to "do it anyway." When God tells you to take a leap of faith and do what He's calling you to do, you may not always feel like it. You may be afraid that the people around you won't understand. You might even feel like you're not strong enough. But at the end of the day, our love for God and our desire to obey Him has to take priority over everything else, our feelings, our preferences, everything. In this episode, we're discussing what that looks like.Make sure to follow Torrie Slaughter from Our Given Purpose, Casey Alexis from Being Eve, and Stephanie Bright from Christian Girls Pop on social media, and listen to their podcasts on all major podcasting platforms. 

Guiding Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 - “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”In 2020, the world had to deal with the whirlwind that was COVID-19. This year (2021), many of us were hoping to find some sense of normalcy again, but so far that hasn't been easy, because this year has had plenty of challenges of its own. As a result, many of us have had to go back to the basics as it relates to the different areas of our lives. In this episode, I'm talking about how God made me go “back to the basics” this year, and what that might look like for you.Key Point: In May of 2020, I released a podcast episode called “The Reset,” (Season 2, Episode 25) which may seem like the same thing as going “back to the basics.” It's not. Webster's Dictionary defines a reset as “moving something back to its original place or position.” I'm talking about rebuilding from the foundations and creating something new. In some ways, that's scarier.It's fitting that my family built a house during this time, because it felt like God was reconstructing my life at the same time.3 Areas Where God Took Me “Back to the Basics”My personality. In this season, God has spent a lot of time reaffirming my identity in Him. If I'm not careful, I tend to be an overachiever who finds my identity in doing, instead of being. (Martha vs Mary) God had to do some course correcting with me in that area because I got out of balance. At the same time, he has been showing me some areas where I still have room for growth.My business. I've been in business as a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, and I've made a lot of mistakes over the years simply because I didn't know any better. Recently I invested in a coaching program to help me build a stronger foundation for my business, and it was worth every penny.My relationship with my family. This area is the most personal because it's still in progress. Without getting into too much detail, I'm learning how to listen more and work on healthier ways to deal with conflict as it relates to my husband and children. Key Point: Rebuilding can often feel discouraging, because it involves God peeling back layers and showing you things that aren't working, even though you thought they were.Action Step: Take at least 30 minutes to spend quiet time with God, and ask Him how He wants to remake and rebuild you during this season. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to commit to this process, even when it gets uncomfortable.

In this week's episode, I talk about my favorite personal finance books and how they improved my life. If you need help getting your money right, these books are a great place to start!Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor or CPA. The details of this podcast are shared for informational purposes only. Please seek assistance from a certified finance professional who can help you with your unique situation.Show Notes:Financial Peace Revisited/The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey Dave Ramsey is one of the most well-known personal finance experts in our generation. I took his Financial Peace University course and read his book, Financial Peace Revisited, when I was in my early 20's.I haven't read The Total Money Makeover, but since that's his most popular book and most of the principles overlap with Financial Peace Revisited, I included both here.Dave Ramsey is best known for creating the Baby Steps to help people get out of debt and build wealth.I don't agree with all of Dave Ramsey's teachings (particularly about eliminating debt), but his materials provide a solid foundation in personal finance overall.Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert KiyosakiRobert Kiyosaki is another well-known personal finance expert whose teachings are on the opposite end of the spectrum as Dave Ramsey. One of the major takeaways for me in this book was the idea that "the poor work for money, while the rich make money work for them". Kiyosaki is also known for his argument that "your house is not an asset." Assets, according to him, are things that put money in your pocket, while liabilities take money out. Therefore, the fastest way to build wealth is to buy as many assets as possible. The Cashflow Quadrant by Robert KiyosakiIn this book, Robert Kiyosaki takes a lot of the ideas he explained in Rich Dad, Poor Dad and expands on them. The Cashflow Quadrant is a helpful visual for these new ideas.In summary, the "E Quadrant" (which stands for "Employee") and the "S Quadrant" (which stands for "Small Business") are on the left side of the quadrant. It is generally more difficult to build wealth from these quadrants.The "B Quadrant" (which stands for "Business Owner") and the "I Quadrant" (which stands for "Investor") are on the right side of the quadrant. Most wealth is built from these quadrants.The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. StanleyHere in the U.S., we associate wealthy people with lavish lifestyles, like actors, musicians and athletes. I love the way Thomas Stanley turns this notion on its head.Based on detailed research, Stanley describes how the "average" American millionaire  looks, thinks and behaves, and the results are often quite surprising.Family Wealth: Keeping it in the Family by James E. Hughes, Jr.Hughes describes how families keep their wealth from one generation to the next.He also explains the details of trusts, intergenerational family meetings and limiting taxes.Action Step: Read or listen to the audio version of one of the books on this list.

Guiding Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15 - “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...”Can I be real for a minute? As Christians, we can get so enamored with the idea of being Christians that we forget to step back and consider why we believe what we believe. If a nonbeliever came up to us and asked us why we made the decision to accept Christ as Savior, what would we say? Would we even have an answer? Recently, the Lord challenged me to consider this question for myself, and these are the answers that came to mind.I believe in Jesus because there is compelling evidence to suggest that He lived.There isn’t much physical evidence of Christ’s existence, but archaeologists have discovered remnants that point to both Nazareth (Jesus’ hometown) and the type of Roman crucifixion that Jesus suffered in the New Testament.Jesus was mentioned in documents written by both Jewish and Roman historians in the decades after His death, and these writings corroborate certain details in the New Testament, such as the mention of Pontius Pilate.Many of these texts were written by people who did not identify themselves as Christians and had no reason to lie.I believe in Jesus because the Bible makes sense to me.The Bible answers all of my major questions about life and humanity. It addresses everything from why there is evil in the world to where we go after we die.The Bible is the only book I’ve ever read that affects me differently no matter how many times I read it. I’ve read other sacred texts before, and they’ve never given me that experience.“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)I believe in Jesus because He gives my life hope and purpose.Paul said that if our hope in Christ is only for this world, we should be pitied more than anyone else (1 Corinthians 15:19).My cousin Dana passed away at 20, and my belief in Jesus gives me hope that I’ll see her again.I believe in Jesus because He stands apart from other religious figures.When you look at most of the major world religions, they are very similar in the principles they teach. The one area where they differ is in what they believe about Jesus.Jesus is the only religious figure that identifies Himself as the one way to God (John 14:6).I believe in Jesus because I’ve encountered Him for myself.Although I grew up in a Christian household, I didn’t really experience the power of Jesus for myself until He freed me from depression.People can discredit the idea of Jesus as Messiah all they want, but they can never take away your personal testimony.Action Step: Why did you decide to become a Christian? Do you relate to any of the reasons I gave for my belief? Sit down with a Christian friend and engage in a mock debate about the merits of Christianity.References:https://www.history.com/news/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 81:9 - “You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.” (NIV)Remember, worship is about our heart posture. Whatever has our heart has our worship, so if something has taken the place in your heart where God should be, it’s an idol.In other words, idolatry is anything that you love---and are more committed to---than God.Anything can be an idol. Here are some of the most common ones:Idols can be people.Daniel 6:7,9 - “The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den... So King Darius put the decree in writing.”These days, celebrity culture has become one of the most popular forms of idol worship. Social media has given us intimate knowledge of other peoples’ lives, causing us to worship both them and the platforms that give us access to them.Idols can be possessions.Exodus 32:3-4 - “So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”In modern times, we worship everything from food to houses to cars, but the most entrenched and widespread idolatry is probably connected to our smartphones. Idols can be politics (ideas).Acts 17:19-21 - “(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)”These days, many people have turned their preferred political party into an idol. No man made party is capable of representing the perfect and righteous kingdom of God. It’s okay to have preferences, but we must always be willing to lay those preferences at the foot of the cross.One thing that makes idolatry difficult to overcome is the fact that it’s layered. When we turn away from God, we rarely replace Him with one thing. Instead, we worship multiple gods in an effort to fill the emptiness we feel without Him.What to do with the idols in your life:Identify them with the help of the Holy Spirit. “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26, NLT)Tear them down. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.” (2 Chronicles 14:2-3, NIV)Renew your commitment to God through worship. “At that time they sacrificed to the Lord seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.” (2 Chronicles 15:11-12)Action Step: Are there any idols in your life that you may have unknowingly erected that you need to tear down? If so, what are they? Begin walking through the steps to tear down the idols in your heart today.

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 95:6 - “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;” (NIV)Okay, we know what worship is, but now the question is, why is it important? Why should we make it a priority in our lives? Are there levels of worship, and if so, how do we go deeper in our worship experience with God?Worship is what we were created to do.1 Peter 2:9 - “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”Worship is spiritual warfare.2 Chronicles 20:22 - “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”Worship is key to unlocking the promises of God.Exodus 23:25-26 - “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.” Most importantly, worship takes glory off of us and gives it to God.Psalm 29:2 - “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”Psalm 86:9 - “All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.”Practical ways to deepen your worship life:Find a new worship song to listen to during your quiet time with God.Listen to an old worship song that you haven’t heard in a long time.Read a psalm and meditate on the words while worship music plays.Take a cue from David and write a psalm while worship music plays.Draw or paint a picture of what you see while worship music plays.If weather permits, spend your worship time outside, preferably in nature.Action Step: Choose one of the suggestions listed in this episode and incorporate it into your worship time for a week. Did you feel closer to God as a result of this change?

Guiding Scripture: John 4:23-24 - “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (NIV)Worship is a topic that is demonstrated every week in the Church, but rarely discussed in detail. It is one of the most important concepts that we should understand in our faith, yet so much of what we believe about worship is limited to cultural preferences. What does the Bible actually say about worship, and how can we apply this to our daily lives?Worship is acknowledging God for who He is.It is often used interchangeably with praise, which is acknowledging God for what He has done.Worship is not limited by culture; God created us differently so we could have different expressions of worship. All of these expressions are beautiful to Him.Worship has less to do with the style of music and more to do with the posture of our hearts.Worship lowers us and lifts God.Psalm 95:6 - “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;” (NIV)Whenever people worshipped God in the Bible, they would physically bow themselves down and lift their hands up to God.This is why worship often feels uncomfortable, especially for new believers. It is meant to remind us that only God is worthy of worship, and we are not.Worship requires genuine sacrifice.In the Old Testament, people worshipped using offerings, so the quality of those offerings was very important to God.These sacrifices were not only a form of worship, but they also served as an atonement for sin.The story of Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:3-5After Jesus died for our sins and became the ultimate sacrifice, the focus of worship shifted away from animal sacrifices to us. We have become houses of worship to God, and our physical bodies have become the evidence of that.Romans 12:1 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”If we don’t worship God, we will always worship something else.Exodus 23:33 - “Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”Action Step: Based on the definition of worship given in this episode, when was the last time you worshipped God? What do you think it means to become a “living sacrifice” to God today?

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 27:13-14 - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (NLT)God’s timing is always different from ours.Isaiah 55:8-9 - “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”2 Peter 3:8 - “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”The wait is long to build up our faith.James 1:2-3 - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”The wait is long to make us mature.James 1:4 - “Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”The wait is long so our motives can be revealed.Genesis 22:12 - “‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’” The wait is long so that God can get more glory.Exodus 3:19-20 - “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.”What to do while you’re waiting (the ABC’s of waiting):Anticipate what God will do: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)Be still: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)Celebrate what God is doing right now: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4)Action Step: What is one area where you are waiting on God to break through or bring change in your life?

Guiding Scripture: Numbers 14:23 - “They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it.” (NLT)We all love to focus on and talk about the excitement of walking in the promises of God---having our prayers answered, our lives changed, and our dreams fulfilled in Him. Many people in the Bible experienced these kinds of extraordinary blessings, which is why we know their stories today. But what about the people who missed the mark? Where did they go wrong? And more importantly, how can we avoid making their mistakes?Reason #1: Unforgiveness (Joseph)Psalm 105:17 - “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”Genesis 45:5 - “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”Reason #2: Doubt/Lack of Faith (Zechariah)Luke 1:20 - “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”Reason #3: Dishonor/Rebellion (Moses)Numbers 20:12 - “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”Reason #4: Impatience (Abraham)Genesis 16:3 - “So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.” (NIV)Reason #5: Disobedience (Saul)1 Samuel 13:13-14 - “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”The good news is that when we repent after missing God’s promise, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)David did this after he slept with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed (Psalm 51). Although he still experienced consequences for his sin, he kept his throne and God mercifully kept His promise.Saul, in contrast, never repented to the Lord directly. He asked Samuel to forgive his sin first (1 Samuel 15:24-25), and then wanted Samuel to worship with him so he could save face in front of the elders and all of Israel (1 Samuel 30-31). Action Step: Study the lives of Saul and David this week. Compare their moments of sin and how each of them responded when confronted (1 Samuel 15 for Saul, 2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51 for David). What differences do you notice in their behavior, and what does this say about their ability to see God’s promise---or not?

Guiding Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18 - “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (NLT)As Christians, we know that God is calling us to become more and more like Him over time, but what does it look like to move from one level to the next? How do we know when we’ve achieved a new level of holiness and maturity in God, and how should we respond?Your prayer life changes.You spend more time recognizing where your weaknesses end and God’s strength begins (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).You spend less time praising God, and more time worshipping Him. Praise is acknowledging God for what He has done, while worship is acknowledging Him for who He is.You spend less time talking to God, and more time hearing from Him.Your thinking changes.Romans 12:2 - “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Your speech changes.Psalm 141:3 - “O LORD, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.1 Corinthians 13:11 - “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”Your behavior changes.You are more stable and not easily swayed in your emotions by false teaching (Ephesians 4:14).You have studied the word of God to the point where you can teach or explain it to others (Hebrews 5:12).You don’t just listen to God’s word, but you also do what it says (James 1:22).Your relationships change.Proverbs 12:26 - “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”Listen to Season 2, Episode 41 of Purpose Without Apology (“When God Changes Your Social Circle”) for an in-depth discussion about how to respond to this type of “leveling up.”Action Step: Answer the following questions during your quiet time with God: What is one way that God is encouraging me to “level up” in this season? Have I been embracing this change or resisting it? How can I respond to God’s maturing process in a better way?