Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast

JAN. 5, 2026Living in the Promised Land."These things happened to them as examples for us." 1Co 10:11 NLTEgypt represents our days in bondage to sin. Then Jesus liberated us and gave us a new life. Our Promised Land isn't a physical territory; it's a spiritual reality. It's not real estate, but a real state of heart and mind. It's a life in which "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Ro 8:37 NKJV).A life in which "we do not lose heart" (2Co 4:16 NKJV). A life in which we are "exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation (2Co 7:4 NKJV); we are "anxious for nothing" (Php 4:6 NKJV); we are "praying always" (Eph 6:18); and a life in which we "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col 3:17 NKJV). Max Lucado wrote: [In Canaan]...'we win more often than we lose, forgive as quickly as we are offended, and give as abundantly as we receive. We serve out of our giftedness and delight in our assignments.We may stumble, but we do not collapse. We may struggle, but we defy despair. We boast only in Christ, trust only in God, lean wholly on his power. We enjoy abundant fruit and increasing faith." Canaan symbolizes the victory we can have today, and God invites us to enter it. There is only one condition; we must turn our backs on wilderness living." Paul wrote: "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1Pe 2:9 NKJV).Living in the Promised Land "You are a chosen generation."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

When your mate struggles with insecurity."Jealousy [is] as cruel as the grave." SS8:6 NKJVIf you're dealing with an insecure mate, you must make every effort to be accountable.It's important to voluntarily provide adequate details. After all, he or she is looking for assurance. Learn to explain your whereabouts in a casual but thorough manner. Short, one-syllable responses will provide more insecurity and leave the person to imagine various negative scenarios. A jealous person is insecure and thus has doubts about having what it takes to maintain the relationship. Do not make the mistake of thinking or saying, "Tough-you just need to get over your insecurity." If it were that easy, your mate would have done it by now. Continue to pray for their healing from this debilitating mindset, but do your part not to exacerbate the problem with vague communication. Most of all, encourage your partner to talk about his or her fears. Listen without being critical or judgmental. Seek first to understand. Make it clear that you love your mate and have pure intentions regarding your relationship. But here is something important to keep in mind: Stay balanced in your interaction. You must also make it clear that you will not be forced into an emotional prison by having to account for every moment of the day. This too could exacerbate the jealousy and set up unrealistic expectations. Trust is a two-way street. And one way to build trust is by praying together. In prayer, we become honest and transparent, realizing that God already knows every detail about us. When your mate hears you share your heart in prayer, it relieves unfounded fears and creates security within them.When your mate struggles with insecurity Trust is a two-way street.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

DEC. 31, 2025Leave the past in the past."Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph 4:32 NKJVStudies suggest that just 3 percent of life events are highly memorable. So, over the course of an average year, approximately seventeen experiences will make it into your long-term memory. The other 97 percent fades into the black hole called the subconscious. But that remaining 3 percent can hurt us every day if we cannot or will not forget. That 3 percent can make us prisoners of our past. Even if we've confessed our sin, we often still feel condemned. And that feeling of condemnation undermines the fact that God is for us (see Ps 56:9). We keep beating ourselves up. We keep sabotaging ourselves. We keep believing the self-defeating lies that come from Satan "the accuser" (see Rev 12:10). And how can you overcome the accuser and silence him? Revelation 12:11 says: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (NKJV). Push back! Testify to Satan the accuser. Tell him what the blood of Jesus Christ has done on your behalf. Remind him that "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Ro 8:1 KJV). None. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Not a trace. Not a whiff. Not a hint. Instead of defining yourself by what you've done wrong, define yourself by what Christ has done right on your behalf. Instead of defining yourself by the hurtful things done to you, begin to declare what Christ has done for you. If you are in Christ, you are not in sin. If you have been forgiven, you are no longer guilty.Leave the past in the past You are no longer guilty.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JAN. 2, 2026Bible reading; the key to spiritual growth (1)"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth." Jos 1:8 NKJVGod gave Joshua a big job: conquer the Promised Land and divide it up among the twelve tribes of Israel. He also gave him the key to success: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." God didn't command Joshua to seek a spiritual experience or a personal revelation. He told him to meditate on the Scriptures. Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson wrote a book called Move. They wanted to find the key factors for spiritual growth, so they surveyed the congregations of one thousand churches. Here's what they found: "Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture. If churches could only do one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the Bible." You don't grow in Christ simply because you're busy in church;  it happens automatically when you read and trust God's Word. So engage with your Bible. Meditate on it day and night.  Think and rethink on it. Let it be your guide. Make it your go-to book for questions. Let it be the ultimate authority in your life. Peter puts it this way: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1Pe 2:2 NKJV).Bible reading; the key to spiritual growth Engage with your Bible.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JAN. 1, 2026Make prayer your first priority."Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Jn 16:24 NKJVPrayer should be your highest priority. Why? Because when you fail to pray, you set yourself up to fail. You're saying in essence, "I don't need God's help or input." God comes by invitation. Prayer opens the door and welcomes Him into your situation. Jesus said, "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." An unknown poet wrote: "I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. 'Why doesn't God help me?' I wondered. He answered, 'You didn't ask.! I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak. I wondered why God didn't show me. He said, 'But you didn't seek! I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, 'My child, you didn't knock! I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray!" The psalmist said, "O God..early will I seek thee" (Ps 63:1 KJV). The first voice he wanted to hear in the morning was God's. The first conversation he wanted to have - was with the Lord. Before others made demands on his time and energy, he wanted to know God's will. Has your prayer life been hit-and-miss? Rearrange things and make it your first priority each day. If you do, you'll begin to thrive spiritually.Make prayer your first priorityMy child, you didn't knock.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

NOV. 27, 2025Be sure to praise the Lord."Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." Ps 33:1 NKJVOf 150 psalms recorded in the Bible, the dominant recurring theme is "praise the Lord!" The book is like a memo from psalmists that says, "Today be sure to praise the Lord." In Psalm 34, David writes: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Ps 34:1-3 NKJV). In Psalm 113:1-3, the psalmist writes: "Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." In Psalm 118:24, the psalmist says, "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." In Psalm 119:164, the psalmist says, "Seven times a day do l praise thee." We have coffee and tea breaks; they had praise breaks. Finally we arrive at Psalm 150, the last psalm. In verse 6, the last verse of the last psalm, we are reminded again, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." That means as long as you are alive and breathing, you're to praise the Lord. So whatever else you do, or fail to do today, be sure to praise the Lord.Be sure to praise the Lord Praise breaksShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

NOV. 25, 2025Start small, and keep a winning attitude. "Do not despise...small beginnings." Zec 4:10 NLTJuan grew up in Puerto Rico, the son of a sugarcane plantation foreman. One of a family of eight, he lived in a three-room shack with a dirt floor and no toilet. His first job, at age six, was driving oxen to plow the cane fields. He worked eight hours a day and earned one dollar. Juan said it was in the cane fields that he learned important lessons like being on time, work hard, and be loyal and respectful to your employers. His job and small income were a great source of self-esteem. At age seven he got a job at a golf course spotting balls for golfers, and he began to dream of playing golf and earning enough money to buy a bicycle. The more he dreamed, the more he thought, "Why not?" He made a golf club out of a guava limb and a piece of pipe, then hammered an empty tin can into a ball. Next, he dug two small holes in the ground and hit the ball back and forth between them. He practiced his "golf" with the same intensity he put into his job in the cane field, and he got good-very good. In his thirty-one years as a pro golfer, Juan "Chi Chi" Rodríguez won eight PGA tour events and twenty-four major tournaments, and he was the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.What can we learn from him? Two things: (1) Be willing to start small. The Bible says, "Do not despise...small beginnings." (2) Be willing to think big because you serve a big God (See Eph 3:20).Start small, and keep a winning attitude Be willing to think big.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

NOV. 5, 2025The traits of a champion."For I know the plans I have for you... plans for good...to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 TLBSports psychologists have identified six recurring traits that are common to Olympic gold medalist athletes. These traits of a champion apply to both men and women, but they are also dominant factors in the lives of those who succeed in non-athletic vocations as well. Let's look carefully at each trait and see what we can learn. (1) Self-analysis. The successful athlete knows their strengths and weaknesses, and engages in a critical appraisal that is honest but never negative.(2) Self-competition. A winner knows that he or she can only control their own performance, so they compete against their own best effort and not that of others. (3) Focus. The champion is always "in the present," concentrating on the task at hand.(4) Confidence. Successful athletes control anxiety by setting tough but reasonable goals. As these goals are reached, their confidence increases. (5) Toughness. This is a mental trait that involves accepting risk and trying to win, rather than trying not to lose. Awinner sees change as opportunity, and accepts responsibility for their own destiny.(6) Having a game plan. Even the best athletes know that talent is not enough; they must have a game plan. And here is the good news: You can develop these six traits. You say, "Where can I get a game plan for my life?" From the God who loves you and says in His Word, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans for good...to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen" (vv. 11-12 TLB).The traits of a champion A game plan for your lifeShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

NOV. 4, 2025Always do your best."Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecc 9:10 NIVA series of illustrations in a popular magazine once depicted the life story of a "one-note musician." From frame to frame, the tale revealed how the woman followed her daily routine of eating and sleeping until the time came for the evening concert. She carefully inspected her violin, took her seat, arranged her music, and tuned her instrument. First the conductor skillfully cued one group of musicians, then another, until finally her moment arrived. It was time for her one note to be played! The conductor turned to the violinist and signaled her to sound her note.She did, and then the moment was over. The orchestra played on, and the "one-note" woman sat quietly through the rest of the concert-not with a sense of disappointment that she had played only one note, but with a sense of contentment that she had played her one note in tune, on time, and with all her ability. Jesus told the story of a business owner who gave three of his employees some talents of silver to be invested on his behalf. One was given five talents, another two talents, and another one talent, "to each according to his own ability" (Mt 25:15 NKJV).The Bible says we will be rewarded in heaven for our service to Christ here on earth. How will God decide what your reward should be? Jesus said it's "to each according to his own ability." Or as Solomon put it, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." In other words, do the best you can with what God gave you.Always do your best One note in tune and on timeShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

NOV. 3, 2025Trust in Christ alone!"Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Jas 2:10 NKJVPaul writes, "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8 NKJV). Why did Paul say we are saved through grace alone? Because trying to obtain salvation by keeping the law sets you up for failure. "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." You say, "That's an impossible standard!" You're right! The law is like an X-ray machine; it can reveal what's under the surface and identify the problem, but it can't fix it. The law is also like a mirror. It can tell you that you need to apply makeup, or shave, or comb your hair, but it can't do these things for you. In other words, the law can show you your problem but can't solve it. But what the law could not do, Christ did on the cross (See Ro 8:3). When Jesus said, "It is finished" (Jn 19:30), all your sins from the cradle to the grave were atoned for. And when you put your trust in Him, you are saved for time and eternity. Some people acknowledge that you are made right with God by grace, through putting your trust in Christ. But, they believe you maintain your salvation by keeping the works of the law. The problem is, even on your best day, you cannot live up to all the demands of a perfect God. The hymnist wrote, "Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting Him whate'er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all!"Trust in Christ alone! You are made right with God by grace.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 21, 2025God can accelerate His plan for your life."You have kept the good wine until now!" Jn 2:10 NKJVJesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding reception. There were six waterpots, each capable of holding thirty gallons. First, He said, "Fill those pots with water." Next, He said, "Take some out and bring it to the host of the party." When the host tasted it, he told the groom, "This is amazing. Everyone serves the best wine first, and after people have had a lot to drink, they bring out the less expensive wine. But you have saved the best wine for last" (See vv. 7-10 NLT). Do you know how long it takes to make wine? It begins with planting seeds, then takes several years for the vines to grow mature grapes. Then they have to be picked and processed to produce the wine. It often takes three to five years before the first wine is ready to be bottled. The better-quality wine takes five to seven years to make. And people consider the best wine to be twenty to thirty years old. Jesus produced in a moment in time what normally takes decades to produce. So if you're concerned that you don't have enough time to achieve your goals, remember that Jesus can do in a moment what might usually take years. Maybe it would typically take you twenty years to pay off your mortgage, or ten years to build your business.But God's favor can thrust you years down the road. He still turns water into wine. Be encouraged, the God we serve knows how to accelerate natural laws. He can take you further, quicker than you can ever imagine.God can accelerate His plan for your life Jesus can do in a moment what usually takes years.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 24, 2025How to pray for your children."Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord...Jesus Christ." 2Pe 3:18 NKJVThe Bible says, "In the last days will come... times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]" (2Ti 3:1 AMPC). We don't have to look far to see that Scripture fulfilled. It's why we need to pray for the physical and spiritual safety of our children; that they may "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord...Jesus Christ." Heather Riggleman writes: "As you and I watch the news, we weep, we cry out in anger, and then we wonder, 'How can we protect our kids...?' We wonder if it's safe to send [them] out the front door. We question whether the world is falling apart. And nothing is more terrifying than the realization that we cannot protect them from life. While we cannot hide our children away from the world, we can...shield them in far greater ways than wrapping them in a plastic bubble or locking them in their rooms for the rest of their lives...We can intercede for [them], praying for wisdom, protection, peace, and strength." Remember, wherever we are gathered and praying, Jesus is in our midst (See Mt 18:19-20). Paul said, "Put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil...Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers" (Eph 6:13, 18 NLT). When you pray like that, God is bound to honor His Word. Keep covering your kids in prayer—and don't give up no matter how bad things in the world get.How to pray for your children Keep covering your kids in prayer.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 23, 2025Sittin' pretty in Jesus!"God, who is rich in mercy... raised us up...and made us sit together in... heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Eph 2:4, 6 NKJVFor many years Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse pastored Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church. One Sunday morning a twelve-year-old boy in the balcony was transfixed after hearing him speak about the length and breadth and depth of God's amazing grace.Barnhouse closed his sermon by summarizing many of the great promises from Scripture in one impressive sentence: "Our sins are forgiven, forgotten, cleansed, pardoned, covered...blotted out as a thick cloud, removed as far as the east is from the west, cast behind God's back." At the end of the service when Barnhouse went to the back to greet people, the boy approached him, tugged at his sleeve, and said, "Good sermon, Doc! We're sure sittin' pretty, aren't we?" That glorious phrase "in Christ" speaks to the redemptive miracle God performed for us through his Son (See Ro 8:1; 1Co 1:2; 15:22; Co 5:17; Eph 2:6-13). The word "in" assures us that just as our natural birth positioned us in Adam, our forefather, at the new birth God deliberately and precisely positions us in Jesus, our Redeemer. Think about it: "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses...raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:4-6 NKJV).Note that we're seated together in heavenly places in Christ, not beside Him. And it gets even better! We're seated there so closely identified with Jesus that we're inseparably and eternally one with Him! Now if that's not sitting pretty, tell us what is!Sittin' pretty in Jesus!Forgiven, forgotten, cleansed, pardonedShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 6, 2025Be careful what you watch."I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar." Ps 101:2-3 NLTAs a teen, Megan arrived home from school just in time to watch an hour of soap operas before doing her homework. She enjoyed the escape into the TV world and wasn't aware that the programs were arousing sexual curiosity in her. After years of exposure to these soaps, her perspective on life took a shift. She began to think, "Relationships don't need to be pure. In fact, the impure ones seem more exciting. Fidelity doesn't matter, as long as a person is happy." As a college student, Megan found it easy to participate in one-night stands. Then after a short marriage ended in catastrophe as a result of her infidelity, she sought help from a counselor.At first it was difficult for the counselor to understand why Megan engaged in extramarital affairs. She had been a model teenager at home, church, and school, as far as her public behavior was concerned. Finally the counselor discovered the source of the temptation that drove Megan to participate in her supposed hidden life. What you watch on television and the internet becomes part of your memory bank. You're putting images on file that Satan will use against you. David's affair with Bathsheba started with a wrong look and ended up bringing tragedy to his family. Later David wrote: "I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar...I will reject perverse ideas and stay from every evil...! will search for faithful people to be my companions" (vv. 2-4, 6 NLT).Be careful what you watch Your memory bankShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 7, 2025You're walking a "prepared" path."Created...to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10 NIVThe word "prepared" derives from an ancient custom of sending servants ahead of a king to have things ready for his arrival. But the King of Kings goes in advance of His servants and prepares the road ahead of us. We don't know this in advance, so we have to overcome our fears, step out in faith, and follow Him. And as we look back, we can say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Ps 23:6). In Ephesians 2:10, notice the words "good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." When you follow God, you're walking a prepared path. It's important to keep this in mind. When you find yourself in difficult circumstances, you need to know that God is directing your footsteps (See Ps 37:23). You have assurance because you know that God has considered every contingency in your life and that He always has your best interest at heart. The psalmist David wrote: "I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too-your reassuring presence, coming and going...I can't take it all in!" (Ps 139:1-6 MSG).If David, whom God called "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13:22 NKJV), couldn't take it all in, you won't either. But God is not asking you to figure Him out; He is just asking you to trust Him.You're walking a "prepared" path Your reassuring presenceShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

ост. 3, 2025Peace that defies human logic."The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and...minds in Christ Jesus." Php 4:7 NIVNo matter what problems you're grappling with, it's good to know that the peace of God "which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and...minds in Christ Jesus." Author Lorie Newman said: "For me, that peace came when my husband lost his job...We were a one-income family with seven children, a mortgage, [and] bills. Would we lose our house? How could we feed our large family? These questions fogged my mind like suffocating smoke. But, in the midst of it, God tenderly spoke life into my worried heart.Unemployment remained. In fact, it remained for nearly two years. But day-by-day, step-by-step, the truth of God's Word began to eclipse the despair and I had incredible peace! God's Word came alive as never before as I navigated the turbulent waters of that rough season of life. I had read that God was my provider, but I began to know and experience him as my provider! What should have been a time of horrific stress...became a place of peace." When problems arise, our natural inclination is to panic. When we do that, we open the door for the Enemy to come in, get us off track, and make us feel victimized. Take these words of Jesus to heart: "My [own] peace I now give...you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed...do not permit yourselves to be fearful and...unsettled.]" (Jn 14:27 AMPC).Peace that defies human logic "Do not let your hearts be troubled."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 2,2025Your emotions matter to God (2)."Let all bitterness, wrath, anger...be put away from you." Eph 4:31 NKJVLike Jesus, we have been created in the image of a God who expresses emotions.Neither the Father nor the Son was afraid or embarrassed to feel deeply, and we shouldn't be either. In Scripture God's heart broke for His wayward children (See Hos 11:8-9). Jesus wept openly at the grave of His dear friend Lazarus (See Jn 11:35). He expressed righteous anger over moneylenders defrauding worshipers in the temple (See Lk 19:45-46). And when it comes to our own feelings, we are neither powerless pawns nor fearful fugitives. God wants us to own them, understand their message, and seek His counsel in engaging them for His glory and the benefit of others. The psalmist often voiced his emotions before God. In Psalm 22:1, he cried out, "My God...why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?" (NLT). Think how he must have felt to make him say those words: intense fear, panic, confusion, disappointment, and betrayal. But note what he did with his emotions. He took them to God, addressed Him personally, and called on His help: "Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me" (v. 11 NLT). David's approach was bold, and he found the help he needed: "For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help" (v. 24 NLT).When you bring your feelings to God, you will find that "all who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy" (v. 26 NLT).Your emotions matter to God We are neither powerless pawns nor fearful fugitives.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

OCT. 1, 2025Your emotions matter to God (1)"We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality." Heb 4:15 MSGEmotions—we all have them. Some we enjoy, some we endure. The question is, what does God say about how we should handle them? "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (Jas 1:2 NKJV). "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger...be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph 4:31 NKJV). "Be...full of sympathy toward each other" (1Pe 3:8 TLB).God has appointed designated seasons for us to weep, laugh, mourn, love-and even hate (See Ecc 3:1-8). Does He demand that we instantly and completely control all our emotions? No. Instead He makes Himself available to transform our hearts and character, so we can manage our emotions in ways that exalt Him. Rather than providing a manual on emotional self-management, He comforts, encourages, convicts, and reorients us by patiently inviting us to do this: "Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you" (1Pe 5:7 TLB).Even painful feelings can provide opportunities to develop a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father. It also helps to remember that we're created in the image of an emotional God, and His Word indicates that He sees our feelings as fundamentally good. Even anger, an emotion commonly deemed pejorative, can glorify Him when we handle it in unselfish ways. It's not about what we feel, it's how we handle those feelings. And God can give us the grace to turn any emotion into an attribute that glorifies Him.Your emotions matter to God"Let him have all your worries and cares."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 30, 2025Don't speak too quickly."Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them." Pr 29:20 NIVWhen you speak too quickly, you can send the wrong signal and get results you don't want. This is particularly so when you're negotiating for the best deal. Speaking impulsively, and overtalking, are not signs of strength but of weakness and insecurity. Here is a story that illustrates the point: A young computer salesman named Kurt was delighted when one of his business clients expressed interest in buying a used computer system-one that Kurt had installed two years ago but that had recently been replaced with an upgrade. After careful consultation with his head office, Kurt fixed a price of $800,000.00 for the used system and documented in writing all his reasons for requesting that amount. As he sat down to negotiate, he heard an inner voice saying, "Wait. Let them do the initial talking." The buyers quickly filled the silence with a long rundown of their own research about this particular computer system's strengths and weaknesses, the age of the equipment, and the need for new software. "Can you throw upgraded software into the deal?" one of the buyers asked. "Sure," Kurt offered. The buyers then said, "We will give you $950,000.00 for the system, but not a penny more." Less than an hour later, the paperwork was signed, and Kurt walked away with a much better deal than he ever imagined, having said little more than thank-you. The apostle James writes, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak" (Jas 1:19 NIV).Don't speak too quickly Quick to listen, slow to speakShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 29, 2025Submit to "Spirit control"."Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Pr 25:28 NIVIn Bible times cities were built with high walls around them for protection. Why? Because an enemy strong enough to tear down those walls was strong enough to take the city. Now you understand this Scripture: "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." An anonymous poet wrote "The Man in the Glass." Here it is: "When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife who judgment upon you must pass, the fellow whose verdict counts the most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum and call you a wonderful guy, but the man in the glass says you're only a bum if you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he's with you clear to the end. And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life and get pats on the back as you pass, but your final reward will be heartaches and tears if you've cheated the man in the glass." The Bible says, "The fruit of the Spirit is...forbearance [self-control]" (Gal 5:22-23 NIV). And the best way to have self-control is to submit to "Spirit control."Submit to "Spirit control" Self-control is Spirit control.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 24, 2025A relationship governed by rules."If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says...God will bless you for doing it." Jas 1:25 NLTGoing to heaven is based solely upon having a relationship with Christ; one in which you place your total trust in Him. This relationship also involves rules you live by and guidelines that make you more godly. A tennis player isn't free to play tennis if there is no baseline to let him or her know whether the ball is "in or out." A baseball player isn't free to play baseball without a foul line. A football player is not free to play football without sidelines.You cannot be truly free without restraints.For example, a fish is not free to wander through the jungle, and a lion is not free to dwell in the ocean. Neither was made for that.Freedom is having the benefits accumulate to you that you were created to receive.Freedom doesn't mean no boundaries.Freedom "in Christ" means that within the right boundaries, you get to experience "life more abundant" (See Jn 10:10). James writes, "If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says...God will bless you for doing it." On top of the Statue of Liberty is a crown with seven spikes depicting the seven seas and seven continents, meaning wherever you are, you can come to America. At the bottom of the statue is a broken chain, meaning you can come to America and find freedom. But when you come, you must agree to honor the rules that govern the relationship.A relationship governed by rules Freedom "in Christ"Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 23, 2025God wants to work through you (3)"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2Ch 16:9 NKJVGod is not hesitant or indifferent when it comes to showing Himself strong. Rather, He is looking "throughout the whole earth" for people who are loyal to Him so He can reveal His power through their lives! Here are three things you need to know about God: (1) He is always at work in supernatural ways in our world, and He has a lot He wants to accomplish. (2) He is actively searching for loyal partners-people who steadily care about what He cares about. (3) He is consistently nudging people to respond, but most people miss it or say no. Question: What would it look like in your life if you began to say yes? A minister writes: "A life marked by the miraculous is not just possible, not even just desirable, but is at the very center of God's will for every one of us. When we settle for less, our lives lose delight, fulfillment, and purpose. Personal needs of people we meet get overlooked. Extreme needs in our communities and around the world go unmet. When a whole generation settles for less, the character and motives of God get called into question. His shining presence seems to fade in the world." But you can do something about it. You were born to be God's ambassador, making Him visible each day (See 2Co 5:20).God desires to show Himself strong in you, for you, and through you, because every person you encounter has a need that only God can meet.God wants to work through you Be God's ambassador.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 22, 2025God wants to work through you (2)"As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Jn20:21Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does" (Jn 5:19-20 NIV). The demands on Jesus were endless. Those who were sick wanted Him to help them. The Pharisees wanted to embroil Him in theological arguments. His disciples wanted Him to go to certain places and not others. But every step Jesus took, every act He performed, and every question He answered was in response to the leadings of His heavenly Father. That's why He didn't burn out. That's why He could say on the eve of His crucifixion, "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (Jn 17:4 NKJV). Now you understand why Jesus often prayed all night and rose early in the morning to pray while His disciples were still sleeping. He had only one purpose: doing what God wanted done that day. Is that easy to do? No. People will pressure you, and unmet needs will guilt-trip you unless you are absolutely clear as to what God wants you to do. And knowing that calls for intimacy, dependency, sensitivity, and obedience to God. But living this way brings a level of joy and fulfillment that cannot be found in anything else. And this is the life you have been called to live, because Jesus said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (Jn 20:21).God wants to work through you  Intimacy, dependency, and obedience to GodShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 9, 2025You will never be perfect enough (2)"By that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy." Heb 10:14 TLBAuthor Dorothy Littell Greco writes: "For some perfectionists, the fear of making a mistake results in a sort of paralysis, causing us to agonize over every decision...To help you discern if [perfectionism] has crept into your life...consider the following questions:(a) Are you comfortable asking for help or only offering it? (b) Are you able to receive appropriate criticism without getting defensive? (c) Do you have a nagging belief that you are falling short of some illusive standard? (d) Do you harshly critique yourself? (e) Are you able to experience joy?An absence of joy might be one of the best indicators [of] perfectionism. It slowly squeezes the joy out of life by reducing creativity, accentuating mistakes, and making us slaves of success." The truth is, no matter how hard we struggle, we can never be perfect enough to satisfy the sin debt against us. And we don't have to be! "Christ gave himself...for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God's right hand... For by that one offering, he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy" (vv. 12, 14 TLB). Notice: When God makes you perfect, it's going to be for forever, and once you get your head wrapped around that truth, it will change your life. Gigi Graham Tchividjian says, "We don't have to be perfect to be a blessing. We are asked only to be real, trusting in His perfection to cover our imperfection, knowing that one day we will finally be all that Christ saved us for and wants us to be."You will never be perfect enough The fear of making a mistakeShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 8, 2025You will never be perfect enough (1)"By grace you have been saved...it is...not a result of works." Eph 2:8-9 ESVA perfectionist seeks to achieve nothing less than perfection. Dorothy Littell Greco writes: "I've been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember…I had to get A's, had to win, and had to please everyone. Every mistake or perceived failure unleashed a torrent of self-condemnation... Perfectionism often [comes from] insecurity and a faulty understanding of grace. During the first few years...parents are meant to communicate through their words and actions that we're...lovable, even though we do nothing to earn that love...But not all of us were the beneficiaries of such parenting.Many of our needs were met with frustration or even anger, which we interpreted as, 'There's something wrong with me! When that's the case, over time, shame creeps in... [and] distorts our understanding of our self-worth. The voice of perfectionism increased when I started following Jesus. I feared being judged and...excluded, [which] motivated me to prove my worth to my fellow Christians. Though I believed, theoretically, that I was saved by grace, I lived as if I had purchased salvation on credit and was accruing an enormous debt. I [lived] as if Jesus would tear up our 'salvation contract' the moment I made a mistake. As I began to understand that pride and a fear of mankind were driving my perfectionism, I confessed this as sin...[and] the chokehold started to loosen. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, I needed Jesus to break in and tenderly reorient me to his living water." Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be a blessing to others-you just have to be real!You will never be perfect enough Salvation on creditShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 5, 2025SOS prayers."In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me." Ps 120:1 NKJVThe three-digit emergency system has amazing capabilities. In most places in America, you need only dial those numbers to be instantly connected to a dispatcher. On a computer screen, the dispatcher instantly sees the caller's telephone number, address, and the name under which the number is listed. Also listening in on the call are police, fire, and paramedics. A caller need not say anything once the call is made. Even rasping coughs and hysterical cries have brought a quick response. The dispatcher knows where the call is coming from, and help is sent immediately. Sometimes our situation is so urgent and desperate that we can't put it into words, so we send up the SOS prayer, "Lord, I need your help!" And help is on the way. "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isa 65:24 NKJV). Sometimes you feel the effects of something, but you don't understand the cause and you can't explain it.This is when the indwelling power of God's Spirit comes to your aid: "The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Ro 8:26-28 NLT).SOS prayers "Lord, I need your help!"Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 4, 2025How your faith can produce results (4)"[Abraham's] faith and his actions were working together." Jas 2:22 NIVIf you really believed God's Word concerning your situation, how would you act differently? Saying you believe is just the beginning; activating your faith means preparing for the answer to arrive.  Ask yourself, "If I really expected an answer to my prayers, how would I prepare for its arrival?"  In Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man... planted in his field...when it grows, it...becomes a tree'" (Mt 13:31-32 NIV). The farmer may sincerely believe he can produce a mustard tree, but nothing happens until he chooses the location, prepares the soil, plants the seed, and continually waters it. Once he does all those things, he can actively watch for its appearance. So, where do you start? (1) Pray for wisdom to make the right decisions (See Jas 1:5-7).(2) Plan your work, and work your plan. Aimless, passive waiting for the things to materialize without thoughtful, active involvement will prove disappointing and fruitless. God uses you as His partner. "We are labourers together with God" (1Co 3:9). (3) Break your plan into small, accomplishable action steps. (4) Don't wait for the fear to go or the faith to grow. Be prepared to take calculated, productive risks. Feel the fear and do it anyhow! (5) Start thanking God even before you can see the answer. And if you should miss the bull's-eye, remember the Revolutionary War militia's response: "Ready, aim, fire!" Adjust your aim-and fire again. "[Abraham's] faith and his actions were working together." And that's still the Bible formula for success.How your faith can produce results Activating your faithShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 3, 2025How your faith can produce results (3)"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Jas 2:17 NIVJames asks, "What good is it...if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds…Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says...'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing...what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" (vv.14-18 NIV). A veritable ocean of faith without the appropriate action to follow it up is nothing more than an ocean of dead, useless faith. On the other hand, an ounce of faith that's acted upon can produce an ocean of results (See Mt 13:31-32). Action breathes life and power into your faith. The biblical prescription for faith is simple but potent. (1) You decide to believe in God's promise and His power to make it happen— leaving the "how and when" up to Him. (2) You choose to act in keeping with what you believe before you see any evidence of the results. (3) God responds to your faith by keeping His unbreakable promise. "Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Nu 23:19). God goes to work exercising His unlimited capacity to perform His Word. Jesus said, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mk 11:24 NIV). Now—it's up to you to claim and act on His promise.How your faith can produce results Action breathes life and power into your faith.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 2, 2025How your faith can produce results (2)"God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Ro 12:3 NKJVThank God, faith isn't reserved for deeply spiritual people. If that was the case, we would all be in trouble! The fact is that regular people from all walks of life can be faith filled. We're inclined to think faith belongs exclusively to people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, Daniel, Peter, and Paul.Now, without question, they were all faith heroes, but faith doesn't belong solely to them. The Bible tells us, "God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." No one will miss out on heaven because he or she wasn't given enough faith to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved" (See Ac 16:31). God intended that not only should we have faith but that we should live by faith. Three times the New Testament assures us "the just shall live by faith" (Heb 10:38 NKJV). You reply, "Yes, but those biblical heroes had great faith; my faith is so small!" Did you know that the apostles felt the same way? They said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" (Lk 17:5 NIV). And Jesus replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea, ' and it will obey you" (v. 6 NIV.)  Like so many of us, the apostles thought they needed more faith.But Jesus corrected this spiritually crippling misperception by telling them you don't need a truckload of faith to see amazing outcomes. "Faith as small as a mustard seed" can bring about awesome results. When you put the faith, you already have been given into action, Jesus said it will produce results!How your faith can produce results Faith as small as a mustard seedShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

SEP. 1, 2025How your faith can produce results (1)"Faith...is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen." Heb 11:1 TLBFaith has little to do with religion or what church you attend. The Greek definition of the word "faith" is pistis, which means a firm persuasion, a conviction based on hearing and learning. Some other words that help to define faith are trust, confidence, and believing. And for good measure, here are a few scriptural descriptions of faith: "The confident assurance that something we want is going to happen...the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." The Bible tells us, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (v. 6 NIV). It also tells us, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (Ro 10:17 NIV). And the apostle James writes, "Faith... not accompanied by action, is dead" (Jas 2:17 NIV).Faith, though it may be felt, isn't a feeling at all. The fact is, you can have faith and feel nothing, and you can feel nothing and still have faith. Nor is it related to intellectual or theological knowledge. Your IQ and level of education have nothing to do with your capacity to exercise faith. Effective faith calls for an act of your will. It's a choice you make to fully embrace what God says in His Word. When that happens, it creates a heart climate that motivates you to act in keeping with what you choose to believe. That's faith in a nutshell!How your faith can produce results Confident assuranceShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 22, 2025Advice for in-laws."That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Ge 2:24 NIVIn Eight Ways In-laws Can Break Up a Marriage it offers examples that should make every in-law stop and think. "(1) When your child decides to marry, show hostility toward the person they chose. After all, it means less love for you, so you have a right to resent them. (2) Expect them to spend weekends and holidays with you, and act hurt if they don't. (3) If they have problems with their mate, encourage them to come home. And when they do, listen to their complaints, and point out other shortcomings they may have missed. Remember, one drop of water after another can wear away a rock. (4) If they're having financial problems, rescue them. Beg, borrow, or steal, but let them know that as long as you're around, they'll never go without. (5) If they have a drinking or drug problem, tell them their mate drove them to it.After all, everybody needs someone to blame.(6) If they have an opportunity for career advancement that takes them to another city, tell them 'family' is more important than money and God will punish them for not honoring the commandment 'honor thy father and thy mother! (7) If there are grandchildren involved, spoil them. And if the parents object, tell them to stay out of it; after all, what are grandkids for? (8) If your child has an argument with their mate, fan the flames.Family loyalty is a beautiful thing; with a little work, you can turn a minor argument into a major hassle and break up a marriage."Advice for in-laws In-laws—stop and think!Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 21, 2025God's answer to anxiety (4)"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." Isa 26:3Dr. D. James Kennedy wrote: "A proper epitaph for most people today would be'Hurried, worried, buried'... Many times we wish we could wash our hands of all our responsibilities and worries. The executive of one small company decided he would. Even though his company was headed for bankruptcy, he decided to quit worrying about it. So [hel called in his first vice-president and said, 'I have had it with worrying about this company. If you'll take over and handle all my worrying for me, I'll add $50,000 to your salary. Startled and perplexed by this generous offer (and knowing the financial condition of the company), the vice-president asked, 'But where are you going to get an extra $50,000?' The boss replied, 'That's your first worry!' William Gladstone, [one of England's] greatest prime minister[s], was a fine Christian man who served the Lord. On the wall of his bedroom hung a plaque embroidered with this text: 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee! It was the first thing Gladstone saw when he awoke in the morning and the last thing he saw before retiring at night. There is the secret of peace! We can have this peace because we know that the One upon whom we've stayed our minds is the One who works all things together for our good. Is the frantic pace of modern life robbing you of peace today? If so, slow down and refocus on the Lord. Realize He's with you and He's in control no matter what comes your way. Stay your mind on Him and let Him grant you His peace."God's answer to anxiety "Hurried, worried, buried"Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 20, 2025God's answer to anxiety (3)"All the days of the desponding...are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings]." Pr 15:15 AMPCOne Christian author writes: "I once went through a period...when I was plagued by anxiety. I was filled with fear and dread for no particular reason. I kept feeling something terrible was going to happen. Finally I went to the Lord and asked Him what was troubling me. He told me it was 'evil forebodings! At the time I didn't even know what that phrase meant or where it came from. Sometime later I came across Proverbs 15:15: 'All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]' (AMPC)...l was like so many other people. I was looking for some 'monster problem' that was keeping me from enjoying life. I was so intense about everything; I was creating problems for myself where none really existed. Once in a meeting, the Lord told me to speak out something. Apparently, someone needed to hear this: 'Stop making a big deal out of nothing.' I used to be the type of person who needed to hear directions like that. I could make mountains out of molehills. I had to learn to just let some things go-forget them and go on. Some of us become upset over things that are just not worth becoming upset over-those 'little foxes, that spoil the vines' (SS 2:15). If our lives consist of becoming upset over one little thing after another...we won't have much peace or joy." So, the word for you today is-cultivate a happy heart and start enjoying the life God has given you!God's answer to anxiety Let some things go.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 19, 2025God's answer to anxiety (2)"Come to me, all you who are... burdened, and I will give you rest." Mt 11:28 NIVAnxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the nation. That was never part of God's plan. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are... burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (NIV). When oxen work side by side in the fields, they are yoked together and share the workload. That's what Jesus wants you to do: work in harness with Him. Can you think of anyone better to share your load? It makes you wonder why we wait so long to take Him up on His offer! He then goes on to say, "Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried...your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you" (Lk 12:29, 30-31 ESV). Jesus gives us the perfect perspective on life. You can't add one day to your life span by worrying, but you can certainly shorten it through stress and anxiety. Think about it:The birds don't sit around in the trees and worry about what they will eat tomorrow. No, they sing without a care in the world. And the lilies don't sweat about how they will grow or if they will get enough rain to survive. All of God's creation except man does not have a care in the world. And since your heavenly Father cares even more for His people, you can be sure He will take care of you.God's answer to anxiety  He will take care of you.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 18, 2025God's answer to anxiety (1)"Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance... by prayer...make your wants known to God." Php 4:6 AMPCAnxiety is the curse of the modern era, but it's not a new trend. Throughout Scripture, Jesus talked a lot about anxiety, stress, and fear. In fact, He mentioned them repeatedly in His teachings. In Matthew 6:25-27, He said, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or...what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (NIV). Now, Jesus didn't say these words just to relieve our fears and worries.What He was doing was commanding us not to be anxious because it demonstrates a lack of faith in God's faithfulness to us. Paul writes: "Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition...with thanksgiving...make your wants known to God. And God's peace...which transcends all understanding shall garrison...your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:6-7 AMPC). Instead of letting fear and anxiety control you, you can have peace by bringing your worries to God in prayer, thanking Him by faith for the answer, and trusting Him to work things out as only He can. So, what are you going to do? Worry and fret, or pray and have peace? The choice is yours.God's answer to anxiety  "God's peace transcends all understanding."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 15, 2025God's footprints."Your footprints were not seen." Ps. 77:19 NIVThe psalmist wrote, "Your path led through... mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen" (v. 19 NIV). When you can't see God's "footprints," He is calling you to walk by faith, not by sight (See 2Co 5:7). Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: "A few months from now, I'll mark an anniversary that is a heartbreaking story of loss and an incomparable testimony of God's faithfulness...l will have been in a wheelchair for 47 years... barely a heartbeat in history, and as nothing compared with eternity. But for a flesh-and-blood, earth-dwelling human being, 47 years is a long time. Anyone who suffers...[wants] assurance that somehow, someway, things will work out in the end. We want to know that God is at the center of our suffering. In Romans 8 we have...that assurance: 'For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose' (v. 28 ESV) … [God] is so supremely in charge of the world that everything touching our lives...is ordered in such a way that it serves our good. This is true whether we face cancer, broken relationships, job loss, bankruptcy...or even a broken neck at age 17. The strong hope of the believer is not that we will escape 'bad things'... but that God will transform our hardships into an instrument of his mercy to do us good...Romans 8:29 reveals [our] sufferings are small and short...compared with the weight of glory they are accruing for [us] in heaven. So bear with heartbreak and hardship a bit longer. These things are expanding your soul's capacity for joy, worship, and service in heaven.God's footprints When you can't see God's "footprints"Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 14, 2025Have you been wounded in church? (2)"I will build my church." Mt 16:18Author Sherry Surratt notes that when Jesus promised to build His church, "[he] wasn't just talking about the bricks or wood that form a...building, but he was talking about building his church of...ordinary, human people who are imperfect... broken and [who] bring their messy lives...with them every time they walk through the door. This is what Christ died for…He died for people-for his church…a group of people, led by people, and not a single one of us is perfect. We're a broken bunch who hopefully recognizes our brokenness and acknowledges that Jesus is the only fix... No matter how long we've been in the church, we never reach perfection...we'll have to work at it every day. We'll come face-to-face with our human side every morning when we wake up, and...when we do, we'll bump up against each other and we'll get hurt. Our natural tendency is to steer clear of what hurts us...So when we encounter gossip aimed at us or witness hatred or hypocrisy in our fellow church goers or even our pastors, it's natural to think about walking away. But to do this is to separate ourselves from something that God built for us to use for our good…The Bible never says other people aren't going to wound [us]...What [it] does teach...is that it doesn't help to just sit in hurt and feel sorry for [ourselves] (See Mt 5:24). God's Word warns [us] not to let bitterness set in (See Heb 12:15). This has nothing to do with pretending something didn't happen. It has everything to do with being honest... admitting when our spirit is crushed and leaving revenge in the hands of God."Have you been wounded in church? We're a broken bunch.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 13, 2025Have you been wounded in church? (1)"I will build my church." Mt 16:18Being hurt by another Christian can be devastating, but the church is filled with imperfect people who do things they shouldn't. As C. S. Lewis said, "God works on us in all sorts of ways...above all he works on us through each other." So before you give up and walk away, consider these suggestions:(1) Admit how much it hurt, and start to cope with it. Running away doesn't achieve this. Humbly approach the person who hurt you, motivated to reconcile. Discuss your pain with the purpose of releasing it and moving on. (2) Ask, "What's my role in this?" If it had nothing to do with you, as in the case of a trusted leader who has fallen morally or legally, ask yourself if you put idealistic expectations on their humanness. Did you think they were perfect? Now that you realize they're not, can you forgive them? (3) Ask God what to do next. He knows the motives in the hearts of the people involved. Give Him time to answer.(4) "Guard your heart...for it determines the course of your life" (Pr 4:23 NLT). Choose to follow God, even when your heart breaks. He alone can decide motives and intents, and He is just and reasonable. But many times, our faithfulness must come first before His blessings flow. (5) If you still feel you must leave, promise yourself and God that you will leave well. Refuse to say anything bad. Don't leave mad, and admit the good, no matter how small. Most important of all, don't quit. God is good, His church is good, and people are flawed. Locate another house of worship, and commit to it with an open heart.Have you been wounded in church?Follow God, even when your heart breaks.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 7, 2025A life-enriching habit."Evening... morning, and at noon, will I pray." Ps 55:17An ancient European monastery perched on a high ledge was accessible only by way of a basket that was held in place by a single rope on a series of pulleys. One day a concerned visitor noticed the rope was frayed in numerous places. Hoping to relieve his anxiety, he asked the monk who was sharing the ride with him, "How often do you guys change the rope?" Stoically the cleric replied,"Whenever it breaks!" Seriously, waiting for the worst to happen before taking action is a risky life strategy. Just as common sense dictates that machinery, health, and relationships require continual attention and maintenance, the same strategy applies to your spiritual life. Because we become what we consistently practice in our walk with God, routine and repetition can be spiritual lifesavers. Spiritual excellence isn't an act; it's a habit! Consider prayer and meditation:Rather than exceptions, they're intended to be habits you practice daily. Don't wait until the rope snaps before incorporating them into your life! Prayer must first be a spiritual discipline. God's Word designates it as a life habit and not merely an act. Paul instructs us to "pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion…..be persistent in your prayers" (Eph 6:18 NLT). "Never stop praying" (1Th 5:17 NLT). The psalmist David understood this principle. He said, "Evening... morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud." And Daniel practiced it too: "He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done" (Da 6:10 NLT). It was a routine that proved powerful and effective for both men—and it's one that will work for you too!A life-enriching habit  "Never stop praying."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 12, 2025Dealing with stress-producing people."If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Ro 12:18 NKJVAt times it's impossible to be at peace with certain people. Recognizing this reality, the apostle Paul, in essence, said, "Do all that you can to try and make it happen." Besides the covenant relationship you have with your husband or wife and your responsibility for your children, if you're wise, you will prayerfully evaluate your other relationships and know how much time you should invest in them. For example: If you have a close relative who is always argumentative or negative, don't put yourself in a position where you have to interact with them on a regular basis. Only holidays together may be enough! The same is true for friends. Those who gossip, condemn others, compete with you, or engage in cutting remarks should rarely find you available-unless the Lord impresses you to spend some time with them to impart His Word. You are not commanded to spend time with people who disturb your peace. Solomon said, "Don't...associate with hot-tempered people" (Pr 22:24 NLT). Paul warned, "Watch out for people who cause divisions...Stay away from them" (Ro 16:17 NLT). When you're in the company of a stress-producing person, ask yourself these questions: "Will this situation grow patience within me if I endure it rather than leave? Why do this person's actions stress me out? Is it because they are reflecting my own behavior? Why am I continuing to interact with them?" Prayer: "Father, I need you to help me discern when and how to be with stress-producing people so that your love continually shines through me."Dealing with stress-producing people People who disturb your peaceShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

AUG. 8, 2025Seeing yourself through God's eyes (1)"We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus." Eph 2:10 NIVIf you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Most of us could come up with a long list! The fact is, Jesus alone holds the world record when it comes to perfection.In the words of Jennifer Dukes Lee: "Until you are convinced of God's incredible love...you will continue looking for replacement love everywhere but in the heart of Christ. No matter where you live or work...the enemy prowls like a lion, stalking people on Wall Street, fashion runways, suburban cul-de-sacs, [and] Facebook walls... [We're] in a showdown with Satan, who will use every opportunity...to whisper in our ears, 'What are people thinking of you?' [He] will tell you you're too fat, too frumpy, too stupid, too poor. He will do whatever he can to set your affections on the things of this world, instead of on Christ. And he'll wrap those accusations in glossy magazine covers if he has to." Don't buy into his lies. Jesus said, "There is not an iota of truth in him...he is the father of liars" (Jn 8:44 TLB). One Christian author summarizes it like this: "Discontentment is one of the big giants we must conquer if we ever hope to enjoy life...We may not have all we would like to have, but we certainly have more than some people. No matter how you think you look, there is somebody who would love to look like you. No matter how old you are, there is someone who would love to be as young as you…Love yourself and love your life; it is the only one you have!" The truth is that you're the only you, God made... after that, He broke the mold!Seeing yourself through God's eyes  He broke the mold!Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

Communication that works at home. "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become...mature." Eph 4:15 NIVVirginia Satir, a founder of family systems therapy, determined that most families have five styles of communication. (1) Some members are placaters. They go along to get along, and reduce stress by saying what others want to hear that makes them less upset. (2) Others are blamers: finger-pointers, nitpickers, spinners of exquisite theories, eager to prove that they're right and you're wrong. And by accepting the blame, you vindicate and empower them. (3) Satir describes other family members as super-reasonable. Their motto is, "Always agree with what other people say and conceal your real feelings." It's how they prevent getting hurt. They talk from their head and not their heart, redirecting the conversation toward things that are "safe." (4) Other family members opt for irrelevance, deflecting the conversation away from uncomfortable and potentially threatening topics. They talk only about what's unrelated to whatever is going on. (5) The final communication style is congruous or consistent. Congruous people tell it like it is. No disguising feelings, no double-talk, and no pretending. If they're angry, they own their anger, they say they're angry, and they may even look angry. They're straight shooters. They have credibility; you can understand and believe them. No topics have to be dodged, and no questions avoided. Anything and everything can be discussed, and everyone's opinion is respected. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Nothing astonishes men [and women] so much as common sense and plain dealing." And it's a scriptural, truth-based communication style that works.Communication that works at home"Common sense and plain dealing"Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUN. 24, 2025Called to overcome (1)"He who overcomes shall inherit all things." Rev 21:7 NKJVA pastor writes: "All of us want every day to be a good day. But if every day was a good day, there would be no 'good' days, because there wouldn't be any bad days to compare the good days to… Sickness helps us appreciate health. Failure helps us appreciate success. Debt helps us appreciate wealth. And the tough times help us appreciate the good times... Adversity is often the seedbed of opportunity [because it has] a way of bringing the best out of us... Adversity is often a blessing in disguise. We dream of zero gravity. We imagine what life would be like without any problems or issues or challenges.But from a biological perspective, zero gravity is hazardous to your health. Astronauts who spend any length of time in zero gravity experience serious medical complications.Without any resistance, they lose muscle mass and bone density, they experience high pulse rates and heart palpitations, and they can barely walk after re-entering the earth's atmosphere. We may dream of zero gravity, but what we really need is a healthy dose of adversity. The people God uses the most are often the people who have experienced the most adversity. This isn't necessarily...what you want to read, but it's true. Adversity can produce an increased capacity to serve God." Why? Because adversity causes us to turn to God, lean on God, seek God, and get to know God in a way we otherwise wouldn't. Some of God's greatest promises in Scripture begin with the words "to him who overcomes." The Bible says, "People who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits" (Da 11:32 NKJV).Called to overcome The tough times help us appreciate the good times.Called to overcome. (2)"This is the victory that has overcome the world -our faith." 1Jn 5:4 NKJVA pastor encourages us: "PsychoanalystAlfred Adler conducted a fascinating research project that popularized the theory of compensation. He studied art students and discovered that seventy percent of them suffered from optical anomalies. He found degenerative traces in the ears of great composers like Mozart and Beethoven. And he cited numerous examples of other people who eventually became successful in the area of their greatest weakness. Adler believed that birth defects, poverty, illness, and negative circumstances often prove to be the springboard for success...God wants to recycle your adversity and turn it into a ministry. People go through a painful divorce or the death of a child or a destructive addiction, but God helps them climb out of the pit so they can help others in similar circumstances. One of the most paralyzing mistakes we make is thinking that our problems somehow disqualify us from being used by God... No one rolls out the red carpet and invites tragedy into their life, but our greatest gifts and passions are often the byproduct of our worst tragedies and failures. Trials have a way of helping us rediscover our purpose in life." The problems God has brought you through become a platform upon which you can stand and minister to others."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" (2Co 1:3-4 NIV).Called to overcome  God wants to recycle your adversitySend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUL. 3, 2025You have come too far to give up now!."He persevered." Heb 11:27 NIVV. Raymond Edman said, "To be torn...by external forces, and still...preserve one's inward integrity, is to know the discipline that endures." So when you're faced with opposition, do you automatically throw in the towel, or like Moses, do you persevere? Chuck Swindoll characterizes Moses as a man "who hung tough, who refused to give in or give up, who decided that no amount of odds against him would cause him to surrender…He possessed the disciplines of durability. He endured the contempt of Pharaoh...the stubbornness of the Hebrews who grumbled, blamed, complained, and rebelled... the criticism of Miriam and Aaron, his own sister and brother. When ten of the twelve spies came back with their nay-sayings, Moses stood fast. When Korah and Dathan and Abiram led a conspiracy against him, Moses remained 'resolute. "When you have fought to a standstill...stand your ground' (Eph 6:13 PHPS)...when the wicked appear to be winning...in times of crisis…when no one will know if you compromised... when big people act contemptibly small…when people demand authority they don't deserve. Stand firm... keep your head…stay true...endure! You may be getting shaky...[or] begun to listen too closely to your critics. Maybe you've started giving in...in little areas...because you're tired.Moses endured-even in his eighties. How? By focusing...on 'Him who is invisible.' He fixed his heart and soul on the One who, alone, judges righteously. He continually reminded himself that his sole purpose was to please, obey, and glorify Him and to gain His approval at all cost." Whatever you're facing, stand strong and don't give up!You have come too far to give up now! Stand your ground.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUL. 2, 2025Overcoming loneliness."Show deep love for each other." 1Pe 4:8 NLTYou don't have to be alone to be lonely. Some of us are married to emotionally unavailable spouses. Some of us put up with verbal and emotional abuse because we prefer anybody's company to our own. Some of the loneliest people you will meet are in crowded bars at "happy" hour. They mingle, but they don't connect. What is the answer? (1) Get involved in a cause greater than self-interest.After the Prodigal Son had spent his last penny partying with so-called friends, they forsook him, and he ended up alone in a hog pen. On the other hand, when the disciples were persecuted for their faith, the Bible says that "being let go, they went to their own company" (Ac 4:23). They had friends who shared their faith and their vision, who knew how to pray with them, strengthen them, and stand by them. And God has people like that who are waiting to become part of your life; you will find some of them in your local church. (2) Practice being accepting of others. When you love and accept people as they are, they're drawn to you. "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins" (1Pe 4:8 NLT). (3) Reach out. Begin nurturing your relationships by connecting more often with the people you know and value. Don't get sucked into the Facebook/email/text-message-only communication vacuum. The founder of Wired Magazine says that his favorite form of communication is face-to-face, his second is by phone, and his third is via internet. Take a leaf out of his book.Overcoming loneliness You don't have to be alone to be lonely.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUL. 1, 2025The challenge of developing leaders (3)."The things you have heard me say... entrust to reliable people." 2Ti 2:2 NIVA leadership expert who conducted a poll to find out how people came to be leaders writes: "I asked if they became leaders because (a) they were given a position; (b) there was a crisis in the organization; or (c) they had been mentored. More than 80 percent indicated that they were leaders because someone had mentored them in leadership-had taken them through the process...As leaders, if we feel any uncertainty or insecurity about the leadership development process, it is usually not related to the training we give. The uncertainty we feel comes when we contemplate releasing our leaders to lead. It is not dissimilar to what parents feel with their kids. My children are grown and have families of their own, but when they were teenagers, the hardest thing for my wife and me was releasing them to go their own way and make their own decisions.It is scary, but if you don't let them try out their wings, they will never learn to fly. As I have grown older, I have come to think of myself as a lid lifter. That is my main function as a team leader. If I can lift the leadership lids for the members of my team, then I am doing my job. The more barriers I remove for my people, the more likely they are to rise up to their potential." Jesus told His disciples, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (Jn 15:16 NKJV). If you want lasting fruit and enduring results-take the time to develop leaders.The challenge of developing leaders A lid lifterShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUN. 26, 2025Called to overcome (3)"In all these things we are more than conquerors." Ro 8:37 NKJVHave you heard of the principle of supercompensation? A pastor explains: "When an athlete is pushed beyond the threshold of pain and exhaustion, the body overcompensates. The more a muscle is broken down, the more it builds back up…The two hundred and six bones in the body are constantly going through a process called remodeling. They are being broken down by osteoclasts and built back up by osteoblasts. The process of remodeling is intensified when a bone is broken. Extra osteoblasts help rebuild the bone. There is a period of weakness where the bone is more vulnerable to re-injury. That is why we wear casts. But eventually the bone ends up stronger than it was to begin with because the body overcompensates. Very rarely does a bone break in the same place twice because the bone is thicker and stronger than it was before the break. Almost like a broken bone that needs to be reset, God breaks us where we need to be broken. He fractures the pride and lust and anger in our lives, but He does it to remodel us into His image. and once we heal, we end up stronger than we were to begin with. [Paul writes,] 'It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ...to suffer for him' [Php 1:29 NIV]. The word 'granted' comes from [a] Greek root...which literally means 'to grant a favor'...We tend to see suffering as a necessary evil at best, but Paul calls it a divine favor." So, maybe God is remodeling you. Perhaps the problem you thought you would never overcome will become your most effective ministry to others.Called to overcome Remodeled into His imageShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

Wisdom for parenting teenagers."There is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." Ecc 3:1 NKJVWhy does a happy, cooperative twelve-year-old suddenly turn into a sullen, depressed thirteen-year-old? There are two powerful forces that account for some of the adolescent behavior that drives you crazy as a parent. The first is linked to social pressures common at that age. But there is a second source of disruption. It's related to hormonal changes that not only transform the physical body but also revolutionize how kids think.For some (not all) adolescents, human chemistry is in a state of imbalance for a few years, causing flightiness, agitation, outbursts, and even depression. This upheaval can motivate a boy or girl to do things that make absolutely no sense to the adults who are watching anxiously on the sidelines. This hormonal firestorm can destabilize their self-concept and create a sense of foreboding. Parents often despair during the irrationality of this period.Everything they have tried to teach their children seems to have misfired for a couple of years. Self-discipline, cleanliness, respect for authority, and common courtesy may give way to risk-taking and all-around goofiness. If that is where your child is today, there is good news-better days are coming! Your unpredictable teen can actually become a tower of strength and good judgment-if they don't do something destructive before their hormones settle down once more. What should you do as a parent? First, don't draw long-term conclusions based on a short-term season. Second, let them know you love them, be patient, and pray for peace of mind."The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds" (Php 4:7 NKJV).Wisdom for parenting teenagers The hormonal firestormShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUN. 10, 2025The five crowns (3)."There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness." 2Ti 4:8 NKJVThe third crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of righteousness. Paul writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord...will give to me on that Day, and... also to all who have loved His appearing" (vv. 7-8 NKJV). A pastor amplifies this: "The book of 2 Timothy represents the last known writing of the apostle Paul, and we have reason to believe he was beheaded shortly after writing these words. But rather than dreading death, he was looking forward to the Second Coming. He was...content with his record of service for the Master. Paul's use of the athletic metaphor here is especially descriptive of the life of the believer because it describes struggle, endurance, discipline, and final victory. The Crown of Righteousness is reserved for those who have a longing for the Lord Jesus and who watch for Jesus to come back." Writing to Titus, Paul speaks of "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13 NKJV). The pastor continues: "Psychologists tell us that anticipation...is an emotion with marvelous healing powers. People who are snowbound sustain their spirits by anticipating the longer days of spring and summer. Couples…separated by military deployment stay sane by anticipating their reunion…Brides and grooms are eager for their wedding day." As a Christian, your best days are ahead of you, and you can anticipate all the glories of heaven and eternity. It should motivate you to be faithful to Jesus as you wait for His return.The five crowns The crown of righteousnessShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

The five crowns (1)."They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." 1Co 9:25 NKJVIn describing our heavenly rewards, the Bible speaks of crowns. Let's look at each and see what we can learn. The first is the victor's crown. "Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (vv. 25-27 NKJV). Paul points out that athletes who expect to win must actively train. And we, likewise, must retain self-control even in things that, although not inherently evil, can weaken our devotion to God. A pastor explains: Sometimes we have to turn off the television so we can study our Bibles. We have to get up earlier in the mornings to have our daily devotions. We have to exercise self-control in what comes into our minds. We can't watch many of today's television programs or movies-much less the streaming material accessible on our phones and computers-without violating biblical standards of personal holiness. We can't subject our bodies to drug or alcohol abuse or allow immorality to creep into our relationships. We've got to keep our tempers [and tongues] under the control of the Holy Spirit...and we have to depend on God to strengthen us in our resolutions to live disciplined lives." The Bible says, "Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown"-the victor's crown.The five crowns  The victor's crownThe five crowns (2)."What will be our...crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!" 1Th 2:19 NLTThe second crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of rejoicing. It's given to those who take part in leading others to Christ. The background for this passage is written about in Acts 17, which tells the story of Paul arriving in the city of Thessalonica. He went into the synagogue, "and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining...that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ'" (vv. 2-3 NKJV). Some of his hearers were converted, including a great multitude of devout Greeks and a number of prominent women. As a result, a church was built there. Writing to them later, Paul said that they would be his crown when Christ returned. We should all follow Bill Bright's example; he was one of the best soul winners of the twentieth century. And he once disclosed his secret: "Although I have shared Christ personally with many thousands of people through the years, I am a rather reserved person and I do not always find it easy to witness. But I have made this my practice, and l urge you to do the same: Assume that whenever you are alone with another person for more than a few moments, you are there by divine appointment to explain...the love and forgiveness he [or she] can know through faith in Jesus Christ." When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Whenever you do, the Lord is fitting you for a crown of rejoicing.The five crowns The crown of rejoicingShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

JUN. 5, 2025Honor others, and God will honor you."...In honor giving preference to one another." Ro 12:10 NKJVOne of the real tests of character and maturity is how you react to someone else's success. That's particularly so when they succeed in an area where you failed or in which you're frustrated over not having achieved greater success. F. B. Meyer, a well-known author and minister in England, once shared the following experience to a few of his friends: "It was easy to pray for the success of G. Campbell Morgan when he was in America. But when he came back to England and took a church near to mine, it was something different. The old Adam in me was inclined to jealousy, but I got my heel upon his head, and whether I felt right toward my friend, I determined to act right. My church gave a reception for him, and I acknowledged that if it was not necessary for me to preach Sunday evenings, I would dearly love to go and hear him myself. Well, that made me feel right toward him. But just see how the dear Lord helped me out of my difficulty. There was Charles Spurgeon preaching wonderfully on one side of me, and G. Campbell Morgan on the other. Both were so popular and drew such crowds that our church caught the overflow, and we had all we could accommodate." No matter how well you do something, someone else will come along and do it better. So, here are your options:Compare yourself to them, compete with them, criticize them, compliment, and cooperate with them. The latter is what Paul meant when he wrote, "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (v. 10 NKJV).Honor others, and God will honor you How you react to someone else's successShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!