Real Life with Jack Hibbs

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that confusion can grow into doubt, and doubt makes us hesitate when God says go. But receiving His Word into our hearts builds a faith that overcomes the world.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that disillusionment deceives us by breeding confusion, and confusion always brings fear close behind. So, when we begin to doubt what we know is true, we need to run back to God's Word, because that's always our rescue.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that godliness is formed in us through redemption, and salvation through Christ. So, when challenges, weakness, or disease comes, the Lord's grace is sufficient, and others will see the Gospel displayed in our lives.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that in a moment of suffering, our lives can change for the better. For the Christ follower, things that feel bad or look bad are just the very things that can turn things around for us.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that everyone suffers in life, but for the believer, we suffer with a purpose. Even something painful like disease can be used by God to build our character, strengthen our faith, or to impact others through our testimony.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that the discipline of disdain is to show compassion instead of hate. People who criticize our faith often don't understand what they're doing, and we need to care about them and pray for them.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that we don't handle rejection well on our own. We need God's spirit to respond the right way. So, being mocked for our faith is actually a good sign. It means we're doing it right, spiritually.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that our natural reaction is to fight back when we're treated with disdain, but that can lead to further trouble. Instead, we're to remain calm, think before we speak, and let God handle it.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that true contentment comes from trusting in God's plan for our lives, and by being thankful right now and not waiting until things improve. When our focus is on the Lord, discontentment loses its power.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that contentment is something we learn. We don't naturally become content, we practice it by reading God's Word and applying it to our lives, and through choosing gratitude over complaining.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that discontentment doesn't stay small. It grows into complaining, bitterness and sadly, a lack of gratitude. But, at its core, discontentment shows a lack of trust in God and knowing that He wants what's best for us.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that when God's Word lives in our hearts, it's a powerful way to live. When we allow ourselves to be taught by the Lord, and yield our lives to His will, we can live free of uncertainty and doubt.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that the purpose of discernment is to know and follow God's will in every situation. When God's will is our priority, the goal is not just making decisions, but making decisions that God wants for our lives.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies, right and wrong, or God's way vs. other influences. It's a discipline that takes a renewal of our minds, through prayer, scripture, and relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our decision making process.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that disappointment can reveal what is really in our hearts. A thankful heart prepares for disappointment, and uniting our will to God's will strengthens our faith and trust in Him.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that we often place hope in the wrong things. Many disappointments happen when we rely too much on our good intentions, or other's unreasonable expectations. So, we need to move our trust back to God, who never disappoints.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that disappointment is part of God's process. God allows it because it teaches, corrects, even redirects us when we're not going the right way, or doing the right thing.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that disabilities and limitations can push us to rely upon God. When we focus on how to respond to problems and not the problems themselves, our strength and support will come from the Lord, rather than ourselves.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that there is a purpose in our disabilities. Even bad circumstances can lead to meaningful outcomes. So, instead of seeing our troubles as pointless suffering that nothing good will come out of it, God can use those times to help us grow spiritually.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches us that difficult experiences can create a resilience in us that we did not have before. We can't control everything in life, but as Christ followers, the Lord can change how we see life, and how we handle our disabilities can affect others in our lives in a positive way.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that difficulties develop hope. Without it, we're liable to stumble and fall. Hard moments can build within us a stronger faith, a humble attitude, and the courage to stand for the truth.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that difficulties are a part of the Christian life, and we should not run from them. Instead of avoiding hard situations, we need to trust in the Lord, and stay faithful, knowing that He is working through those challenges.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that difficulties are often a test of a real commitment towards the Lord. Anyone can follow God when life is easy. But, when it becomes difficult, that's when it shows whether or not we are truly committed to His will.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that Jesus came for people who know they need help. Trials can deepen our appreciation towards the Lord, and difficult experiences often make us more grateful, more prayerful, and more aware of God's presence in our lives.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that difficulties help us recognize our need for God. When life is easy, we often ignore Him. But, the hard times push us to seek Him and depend on Him more.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that determination means staying faithful. Staying committed to Christ, trusting in His plan, and continuing to obey Him no matter what, is the real discipline of determination.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that hard times are a part of the Christian life. We'll face criticism, struggles, even disappointment. God can work through those hardships, and we can trust Him to see us through, especially when things seem hopeless.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that, as Christ followers, we need to be a determined people. Emotions can make us want to quit. We need to be serious Christians that are filled with enthusiasm, and consumed with the things of God.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that we often have a hard time slowing down. There is joy and peace in the stillness. Calmness, in its time, is a good thing. But, whether we're at work, or at rest, our goal is to live for Christ.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that even when it's hard to see God in the situation, He is in it. When we get to know Him by getting into the details of who God is, we can trust that no matter what, He is always good.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that our God is a God of detail. When we consider creation, even ourselves, life is in the details. When we stop the rushing, and the chaos, it's the details of life that make life worth living.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that despair can settle us in for life. In other words, it's all about deciding to be with Jesus. In any circumstance, or in any dilemma, it's safer to be with the Lord than with anyone else, in spite of our fears.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that despair can deepen our faith, make prayer more heartfelt and genuine, and it can remind us that God has not abandoned us, but is right there in our suffering.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that despair can teach us important spiritual lessons. When we cry out in desperation, we can experience His help and learn to trust Him more deeply.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that spiritual desolation will not only involve grief and fear, but it's lonely as well. When we turn back to intimacy with God and return to prayer and the study of God's Word, life will become pure, simple, and even beautiful again.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that our enemy Satan, even our own flesh, wants to convince us that when we feel isolated, we're beyond hope and help. But, nothing could be further from the truth. The Lord is always there, even when we can't feel His presence.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that when we are overwhelmed, the Lord is unchanging. We can be in the middle of long and lonely days of spiritual dryness, fighting off unhappiness, and yet, we can still hold onto God and His Word.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that the seed of our desires are rooted in our soul. It's why we need to take our desires to the Lord. We cannot manage desire without knowing God, and what He says in His Word.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that desire is part of being human. But, there are many types of desire. Some are Godly, and some are ugly. So, the discipline of desire is to take control of those desires and choose the ones that reflect God's glory.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that there is a myth about the 10 Commandments. That they don't let us do anything and are set up to quench our desires. But, the 10 Commandments are designed by God to drive us to absolute freedom and liberty.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that just as we love to depend on others, we need to remind ourselves to also be dependable. Doing the right thing may make us feel uncomfortable, but we need to keep a watchful eye on the things that can lead us back to our old selfish ways.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that dependability is proven through the difficult times. Our hearts need to be guarded through the pressures of life so we can praise and worship the Lord, fellowship with others, and meditate on His Word.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that who and what we are is often decided in our youth. Influences through the years have created certain disciplines. But for the Christian, our lives are being recreated where dependability begins in the heart.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that at the moment of conversion we are given a new heart spiritually. This results in a new attitude, and through Christ we are able to have and enjoy what others in the world strive to achieve.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that when we delight in the Lord, we think less of ourselves. This is a great and powerful thing. To see life as God's responsibility, we are free to be what He wants us to be.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that joy strengthens our faith and brings contentment to our hearts. When we recognize who really owns what we have, a real peace can sweep over us and bring rest to our minds.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that God knows how it's all going to turn out. And, when we wait for His results, and not try to make things happen, we're actually letting God be God, and it's amazing what he can do.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that God has a plan for our lives. His delay is what separates us from the advice of the world, and even from those who are closest around us. The longer we have to wait for the Lord to act, the more clearly we see, and the more simple things become.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches us that to wait on the Lord is to pursue Him, and His Word, even when it feels like He delays His answer. It's only by waiting and trusting that we overcome our anxieties, and the challenges of our day.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that deformity can be a strength to us, confident that God loves us, and His grace is sufficient. The flesh will often fail us, but we can still find joy in the deformities that keep us humble.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that people are spiritually impaired without Christ. We need to recognize our need for Him so we can hear His truth and respond to it with meaning and purpose.