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January 16, 2019 – This verse spoke to me deeply in my reading today, especially the words, hidden agenda. How do I allow my personality, my preferences, or my ideas to affect the way I work and play well with others? Am I a slave to my own hidden agenda?

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As I was struggling through this scripture, two big truths became really clear. A lack of open communication led to my feeling distant in relationship to leadership over me. And, that feeling, began to create a lens of resentment through which I viewed everything.

Whether in your job or with friends, this is an easy trap to fall into. It is both a natural defense mechanism and a deception tactic of the enemy. Open communication is so important. As a leader you want to create an environment where everyone feels safe to voice an idea, then develop good listening skills, and provide loving feedback. Then, as someone who is not the primary leader, you want to respectfully and honestly speak up. To make that process easier, work hard, don’t gossip, and seek to build a positive relationship with your leaders. Honesty, integrity, and openness are the keys to success.

Hidden things are typically more hurtful than those out in the open, and not just to those from whom they are hidden.

December 13, 2018 – The story of Peter touches us all in a way because, by our sin, we, too, have betrayed our Savior. We tend to justify our action or inaction rather than deal with the truth of our rebellion. Today, as I read Peter’s story, I see clearly that I am him. I am there, watching Jesus suffer on my behalf and still, I give in to weakness. Is it weakness or rather is it defiance? God help me find true repentance that I may never again give in to the strength of willful disobedience.

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What stands out to me most about how we have learned to deal with sin is that we often see ourselves as the victim of our enemy. I’m not saying that we use the old cliché, “The devil made me do it!” Rather, we tend to downplay the role that our personal desire for self-gratification or self-preservation has in our failure. Now, before I go any further, let me say, today isn’t a day to beat ourselves up, but rather to take responsibility and control of the decisions we make. Sometimes we just have to own it in order to then be able to change it.

For too many years, I allowed myself to be a passive “sinner saved by grace.” Not that there is anything wrong with that phrase, but it sure leaves me with a negative outlook on life. Well, to that I say, “NO!” Through the blood of Jesus, I can choose a different path of self-denial rather than continual Christ-denial. By no means am I saying that I stand in my own strength, but I am saying that I can take hold of the new identity and position I have in the Kingdom of God, through the work of Jesus. He calls me his friend.

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December 3, 2018 – Cold weather, Crowds, Christmas. Jared will be home from college. Good movies and family time. The end of the old, the beginning of the new. This month stirs a lot of different emotions. This year I want to be controlled in our spending, but generous in our giving. I want to savor every moment with a thankful heart. I want to get some morning sunshine on my face and plan time to make the most of every day.

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Seize the Day! This is probably one of the most misinterpreted ideas that society, especially American society, loves to advocate. I suppose one should not be surprised considering the fact that a self-centered existence is the true opiate of the masses. Humanism is everywhere around you, so keep your eyes and ears open. Sayings like, “You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” or “With enough hard work, you can be anything you want to be,” are hallmarks of humanism. It sounds good to the ear (or the ego) but is far from actual truth. The point of this is to say that the idea of making the most of every moment is a biblical concept, but the idea has become twisted over the years.

The truth is, life is short. People need Jesus. God needs your life, your discipleship, today. Our knowledge of tomorrow is only a guess, an expectation, or a hope. Nothing is certain.
So, that being said, speak life over and into every relationship. With genuine love, boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t hesitate to take the right kind of risk. Pray with faith and boldness. And, like Paul, pour your life out as a drink offering to God, for others. That is what it means to seize the day.

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January 15, 2020 – Momentum is a fickle thing. It can carry you forward on a powerful wave or just dump you and dissipate in an instant. So, here’s a good question, why do we rely so much upon momentum? And better yet, why do we always seek immediate results?

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A firm foundation takes the place of momentum because you can actually build something on it. And by far, steady growth over time is better than the up-and-down spurts that naturally accompany momentum. So, what am I saying? Growth is important, but not all growth will last. Only growth built on a solid foundation over time will continue to produce positive dividends.

The key to growing in our walk with God is building our lives upon the solid foundation of the resurrection of Jesus, which then, gives us confidence in the truth and authenticity of scripture. Growing up in the church youth group, we always looked to camps and retreats as “mountain-top” experiences that fueled our walk with God. What should be true is that our daily walk with God fuels our mountain-top experiences.

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My encouragement to you today is to be patient. Lean-in to the truth and power of the resurrection of Jesus with a thankful heart and a desire to build your life. Invest the time and then, don’t allow yourself to be frustrated by speed bumps in your walk with God. Don’t make excuses for them, but don’t let them defeat you either. You’ve got this!

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November 24, 2018 – I haven’t memorized scripture in so long, I think I have forgotten much of what I once knew so well. Is memorizing scripture a discipline we should practice? Upon reflection, I think so, as long as we understand the context and original intent and meaning of every verse. That may very well be the most important task we undertake with scripture.

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I don’t remember making a conscious decision to stop memorizing scripture, it just happened over time. Knowing God’s word is super-helpful. I think the reason that it faded from my habits is because of our tendency to memorize individual verses without paying attention to the context in which the verse appears. Lots of people have been hurt over the years by verses taken out of context and wielded like weapons to make a point. So, it comes down to this, Yes, by all means, memorize scripture. You never know when it will be exactly what you need.

Then, let integrity lead the way. Study to know what the writer meant when he was writing to the original audience. Look for principles that can be universally applied. Read it all, especially the New Testament, over and over again. And lastly, scripture isn’t meant to be a weapon against people. It’s a love story. Even as a weapon against our enemy, it is the love of Christ that sets us free and cannot be overcome by any scheme, accusation, or deception. So, be careful, swords are sharp!  

To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation.
-Paulo Cuelho, The Alchemist

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Good stories often have a way of reflecting THE story, whether they intend to or not. The story of God, his existence, his unending love and amazing grace, and his life-giving sacrifice show up in some form or another in any good story. Our hearts are inexplicably drawn toward the truth that resonates in the characters and events. One of these truths is that our life has purpose.

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November 23, 2018 – God created you for a purpose and works in you and around you to always move you toward it. I love the term “personal legend” because it just sounds so epic. Despite being a part of a great church and amazing ministry, I can’t help feeling that God has more in store for us. It involves writing, the knowledge of languages, and maybe a camp or life center of sorts. I don’t know why I know that, but I do. Lord, help me understand and step into my personal legend.

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God doesn’t try to hide his plans and purposes from his children. Ask him for ears to hear and eyes to see, then spend time today listening. Find a quiet space and just listen. It may take a while to quiet your mind. Give yourself some space and time and write down your thoughts and impressions. You should then be able to wade through what is you and what is God. Practice this as often as you can.

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February 22, 2020 - This is such a simple encouragement from Paul, but it may be the least listened to instruction he ever gave. It seems like everything is given priority over growing in our relationship with God. Later in this chapter he states clearly that such priorities are, in fact, idolatry, and yet, that fact seemingly changes nothing. Why? More directly, why has this ever been true in my life? I would say that good intentions fall short, but I doubt seriously that we even have the good intent. The unsettling truth is that, in our me-centered world, we have developed a complete lack of gratitude. We don’t regularly send thank you cards, we criticize war rather than express thankfulness to those who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy, and we see a relationship with God as too demanding on our personal lives. I fear that somewhere in there we are not thankful because we believe we are, after all, deserving of such considerations. What a bunch of pompous idiots we have become! How dare we take for granted the kindness, generosity and sacrifice others have made to give us the life we enjoy. God if anything grieves your heart, this must be our deepest wound.

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Today’s prayer: Lord God, thank you. May my life be lived to honor you, now and forever. Deep roots. Obedience. Gratitude. Love. May these be the defining characteristics of my life, FOR YOUR GLORY!

November 21, 2018 - Mark 5:1-20 is the amazing story of when Jesus encountered the crazy, naked man who was possessed by an entire legion of demons. Jesus cast the demons out into a heard of pigs that subsequently ran off a cliff into the sea below and drowned. Afterward, the townspeople came out and asked Jesus to leave. That always seemed strange to me… until today. How often are we just the same? We love the familiar, drug-like hit of our favorite sin. Pride. Lust. Envy. What is it for you? Okay, okay, I agree, this isn’t how we want to live, so how can we recognize when this is happening and change course before temptation gives birth to sin? It all starts with reasoning. We begin to justify our sin. Phrases like, “It’s not so bad,” or, “God understands, it’s just a part of my struggle,” are definitely a good indicator that we’re headed in the wrong direction. We can sometimes even flip it and get mad at God and despise the fact that something is indeed “sin.” It’s at this point that we cry out to God and give thanks for his amazing patience and forgiveness.

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I totally left myself hanging back then. The truth is, if temptation has progressed to the point of justification and anger, chances are slim that you’re going to find the strength to apply the brakes and change your direction. The real key is developing the habit of praying on God’s armor and submitting fully to him as you begin every day. Secondly, develop a sensitivity to the spirit so you can recognize temptation or the presence of any demonic principality or power the moment it draws near to you. Then, stop what you’re doing, bring the cross of Christ and his resurrection between you and the spirit or temptation, and command it to leave in the name of Jesus and by his authority. This takes practice and persistence. Keep at it and you, too, will experience victory. #james4:7style

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November 14, 2018 – Do I have a lack of discipline? Do I really love God and love people? Have I reached a point where I no longer have hope? 
 
These questions represent some of my biggest fears. They are things to which I desperately hope I have the right answers. I can’t bear the thought that they are a true representation of all that lies beneath the surface of my life. 
 
I hesitate for a moment… I believe that my heart is good—made in the image of God and restored by Jesus to its original glory. Why then, does it feel like my heart is my true betrayer? Has it been set up by my flesh to look guilty, so I won’t trust anything?

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There is nothing quite so crippling as to lose heart and feel utterly worthless. I struggled with this off and on for many years. Even though I learned to differentiate between my sin nature or flesh and my heart, I still couldn’t get any traction in my walk with God. Then, I realized that I was making my relationship with God all about me and my own power to live a life worthy of him. The Holy Spirit drew me to this amazing truth:

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Son. Family. Forever. Free. Meditate on those words. Let them sink deep into your soul. This is what it means to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. We don’t just get part of the promise. We share in it all. There is no such thing as half-way making a commitment to Christ, and vice versa, He doesn’t make a half-way commitment to you!

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November 12, 2018 – Why was it wrong for Jesus to turn the stones into bread when he was hungry? In response to Satan’s offer, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8 when Moses reminded a new generation of God’s provision of manna in the wilderness. Jesus taught us a couple of truths that are super important. First, rely solely on God. Be thankful for his provision and timing. And, secondly, and somewhat disconcertingly, it is possible for Satan to offer us good things. How many times have I fallen for this in my life? Being impulsive isn’t a spiritual gift. We need wisdom and discernment to know when what is before us is truly from God. How will we know? Look beyond the gift to the fruit it will produce in your life.

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The answer to the above question, “How many times have I fallen for this?” Far too many! This is why learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, really hearing his voice, is the key to walking with God. It has been well said that Satan doesn’t have to corrupt us as long as he can get us to settle for good enough.

Don’t fall for the deceiver’s plan. Don’t betray yourself by helping the thief steal, kill, and destroy. Say “NO!” to the immediate and the good. Press on to attain the abundant life that is in Christ.

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We all have a past. Thanks to Jesus, our past does not define us. It is just our past. In Christ, we have a present and a future. We may bear the scars of both victory and defeat in battle, but they are just that, scars. Our scars are a part of us, some hidden and some unavoidably visible, but they can only shape us when we give them the authority to do so. God’s forgiveness is both real and complete. Paul understood the emotional pain of regret. He knew the physical pain of being beaten. His scars went deep. It’s at this point that many would argue that he deserves the right to have a breakdown, to give in to anxiety or depression. Oh, woe is Paul! That is not, however, how Paul saw it. To live was to live for Christ and be an encouragement to others. To die was to be present in heaven with Christ forever. Paul knew that life in Christ is a restored life. Scars are not the remnants of old wounds. They are the signs of God’s healing. They are not permission to dwell in and bemoan your difficulties or past pain. They are reminders that God has already brought you through much and he will continue to strengthen and heal you. Your scars are His glory on display for the benefit of others. We don’t seek after them, but in Christ we bear them well.

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Probably, the most difficult part of being a parent is leading your family to follow God, when the life you choose stands in stark contrast to the way everyone else around you lives. We sure experienced that with small town living and small school sports. There were days that it really hurt me deeply because I knew in the immediate, here and now, you son would have to bear the burden of my choices.

We survived, but sometimes that was about all. Your mom and I wanted to make an investment in your lives that would last. We didn’t want you to live at a crazy pace or become so sold out to sports that it became the most important thing in your life. The problem always was, it was all or nothing.

That is still what the world will bark at you. We just can’t live that way. So, think in these terms. Why do we have to let the world around us set the trend? Why can’t we invite others into transformed thinking and worship-first living? Just imagine what your life, and your children’s lives, could be like if you created a fellowship of friends that redefined normal. What would that look like? What would that feel like? What could that mean for future generations? It’s up to you!

That’s the way I felt about journaling for so much of my life. I didn’t like it. I wasn’t good at it or consistent enough to be of any value to me. Thanks to the encouragement of John Eldredge and the work of the Holy Spirit, that shifted a couple of years ago. I am grateful for the sporadic entries in my journal along the way because they are like trail markers for me. They stand as a memorial to God’s love and grace in my life.

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Journaling is a great way for you to set up these kinds of markers for your life as well. You never know when you might need a word of encouragement from your own hand to remind you that God has been, is, and always will be with you.

In addition, you never know when God might need you to share your journey with others as well. If you don’t make a record of some sort, many of your fondest experiences will be lost to memory, and in time that too, will fade.

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Adam and Eve had the amazing privilege of having God come down and visit with them, and they walked in the garden together. What we think of most when we talk about this verse is the fact that, because of the serpent and sin, all hell was about to break loose… literally!

That’s unfortunate because this part of the verse is actually a reminder that this is the way God wants to walk with us even now. Through Jesus, our close fellowship with God finds restoration. Shame doesn’t have to characterize the way we believe God views us. We have been redeemed. When a coupon is sitting on your table at home, it is basically worthless, but when it is redeemed its value is restored. That’s what Jesus did for us!

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November 29, 2018 – We had a great weekend at church. God is up to something significant. For me personally, I plan to weed out the distractions and spend more time with God. I want to talk to him more and walk with him in the cool of the day. I want to fill my thoughts and my soul with more and more of him.

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God wants the same thing with all of us. His forgiveness is perfect. He doesn’t want us to walk around, constantly carrying or wallowing in our shame. He wants us to walk in redemption and carry the message of redemption wherever we go. We have an awesome God!

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February 10, 2016 – Twenty-six years ago, the direction of my life changed. I saw a vision of myself standing before a group of people with the Bible in my hands. I knew so certainly then that God was calling me into ministry. All these years later, I feel so far from that vision. I don’t know what to do. Working for a church was frustrating, and yet did I really move to Montana to be a schoolteacher for the rest of my life? In a lot of ways, we have made very real, positive changes, but I still feel like I am missing God’s purpose somehow. I want to make a difference. I want to see people experience the amazing love of God. The status quo isn’t good enough anymore and I don’t want to lose heart. Lord, move us. I don’t know how to get from where we are to where we need to be, but I know you do. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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Three months after this journal entry, God began the process of moving us to a new town where we ultimately connected with new friends and new opportunities to follow God’s direction. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine all God had in store. What we did, was pray for God’s provision of a job that involved ministry. He did the rest.

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Try something as you pray today. Surrender your life, your career, your future to him completely. Pray the words, “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Then, be prepared to say, YES, to whatever God has in store for you.

July 29, 2012 – Prayer is still not an easy discipline for our family. We are way too distracted.

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Today, I am happy to say that much has changed since that short and simple little journal entry. This is one area of my walk with God where discipline was no help. I didn’t know why then, but no matter how much I tried, I just could not find it within me to be inspired or motivated to pray more. Don’t get me wrong, I prayed, but never consistently. It might be a few words spoken here or there, but no real, deep heart-level prayer.

Why? How could this be true of someone who has been involved in ministry since he was 16 years old? Two things—continual or habitual sin and spiritual warfare. One opens the door for the other. Never forget, Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and he will capitalize on any opportunity we give him. I don’t really want to dwell on that part of my story other than to say I was getting beat up pretty badly on a regular basis.

I finally reached the point where I was tired of living a defeated life. Prayer became the one thing I would cling to in desperation to prevent myself from falling into old habits. I started praying on the armor of God every morning. I began to pour out my heart to God. He helped me deal honestly with this person I had become. I was experiencing spiritual healing. I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit. I learned to fight for the life I wanted. I learned how to recognize and confront Satan’s forces in the moment and not let accusation and deception get the best of me. I invited Jesus into past experiences, and he brought peace and restoration to the depths of my soul.

Please make this a priority in your life today. It changes everything.

And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.
                       -1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT)

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Regrettably, I have to say that in my most difficult seasons of life, thankfulness was absent. What I discovered was that the lack of thankfulness compounds the misery of any situation. It makes a hard time harder, and a time of grief even more heartbreaking.

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March 18, 2012 – The last few months have been unbearably difficult at work. The negativity and hostility is difficult to understand. Everyone seems to have a complaint about something. People are becoming territorial and leadership is completely disconnected. I don’t believe I am having any kind of positive or Godly influence. Lord, I don’t want to simply avoid everyone or every situation, but rather, I want to shine like the stars and be a lamp on a hill whose light cannot be hidden.

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Unfortunately, instead of pressing through to shine like the stars, I found myself coming home angry and complaining just as much as those at work. It was totally exhausting, and I saw myself becoming someone I didn’t want to be.

That is why thankfulness is an incredible weapon in our lives. Thankfulness gives us the ability to distance ourselves from the emotions of the moment so we can find rest and hope in the goodness of God. If we stop and think of all that God has done, we can find joy underneath the gloom and doom of any situation. So, I encourage you to be prepared. Make a list today of things for which you are thankful. Then, put a neon sticky note on this page, so you can come back here whenever you need to be reminded of the awesomeness of God.

August 21, 2011 – Finally, today I am back on track with bible study. I am so sorry, Lord, for allowing changes to our regular routines to keep our family so distracted and occupied that we fail to make time for you. You deserve far more from me. I struggle because so often I allow myself to be separated from you. The good news is, this doesn’t have to continue.

How many times did I have this thought? I wanted to spend time with God every day, then inevitably, I would find myself looking back over several days and feel so defeated because once again I had failed. It was always great to get back on track, but still, Satan would constantly use this yo-yo effect in my walk with God to shame me. Combine that with some struggles with sin like pride, lust, and anger, and like the Israelites in the book of Judges, my life was trapped in a cycle that kept me from experiencing real growth and victory.

So, what made the difference? How did I ever break free of this cycle? First of all, I dealt with the spiritual influences that hid in the shadows and held my thought life captive. I learned how to fully submit to God and resist the devil. I admitted my need for healing and restoration, and I prayed once again to receive the Holy Spirit and give him full freedom to fill me and work in my life. Change didn’t all happen overnight, but I did have a degree of relief that flooded in immediately. Then, I was able to have the persistence to give God more than a few, rushed, moments each day. Some would say I disciplined myself, but honestly, that’s not at all what it was. Having dealt with the sources of my distraction and defeat, I could then experience a greater depth of God’s love and forgiveness. Now, missing my time with God every day isn’t an option. I need it, and I truly love it. You will, too.

July 26, 2011 – Lord, I want to have the faith to simply pray and trust. This is so hard. Growing up I heard stories of missionaries who experienced amazing things as you protected and provided for them. Why do I question that you could do this in my life? I don’t even know what to think. My thoughts are confused, and it weakens my resolve. Lord, help me!

Some prayers are cries of the heart because we are desperate to see God’s hand at work, to know that he sees us, and that what is going on matters to him. I love the way David said, “My eyes strain to see your rescue,” because it gives me hope that a man after God’s own heart felt the same as I often do.

In that moment, David asked for grace, a deeper understanding of God, and discernment. Discernment? I believe it is discernment that makes all the difference in times like these. God never stops working and moving in our lives. What becomes distorted is our ability to see him clearly. This can result from allowing ourselves to focus on our circumstances, taking our eyes off of God, or because our vision has become veiled by the things of this world.

Being careful about what we allow into our lives has taken a beating in recent years because people are super-cautious about becoming legalistic. I totally agree. However, holiness isn’t meant to be lorded over others, but rather to enable us to see clearly our lives, the world around us, and God’s hand at work in it.

April 2009 – Today, very significantly, I feel a burden to pray against the spiritual strongholds of Satan in the Northwest. I feel considerable opposition to us, specifically pertaining to getting a job and planting our lives in Montana. I find myself at the end of the day completely exhausted and facing down all of the distractions that seek to prevent me from spending the time with God that I so desperately need. So begins the battle. I am determined to fight. I will have better days than this and I will not give up.

Early on in my walk with God, I experienced just enough success in ministry to keep me satisfied. I had the outward appearance of a man “on fire” for God, but my heart was mostly self-absorbed.

Fast-forward to feeling the pull of the Holy Spirit to abandon all the comforts of the life we knew to live on mission with God. One thing quickly became very clear, if we were going to do this, we were going to have to fight for it every step of the way.

The same is true for you. You can live in relative obscurity in the eyes of Satan as long as you don’t make any waves. Choose to truly pursue the life God has for you, and you better hold on tight, because the fight will be on!

Rest assured, Jesus has already won this fight. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has not only provided the victory, but has also given you the authority you need as a co-heir and son with him of God’s Kingdom to take your stand against the devil and all his spiritual powers and authorities of darkness.

March 25, 2009 - Well, Tammie and I are making plans to move to Montana and teach. What is God’s mission for us? We don’t really know what the specifics of this might be. All we know is that we feel that God wants us to transplant our family to Montana. Who knows what kind of ministry this will open up for us? No matter what, we are committed to follow God on this incredible adventure.

Experience is a great teacher as we look backward over choices we’ve made and the battle scars we’ve earned along the way.

Adventure is unpredictable because you are looking forward as you stand on the edge of taking your first step.

The thing is, you can’t really gain experience unless you are willing to surrender your life to the adventure. Trust me, as much as you’d like to control everything and know the outcome before you take that step, it’s the adventure that keeps us growing.

Of all the ways God could have chosen to relate to us, he invites us into an adventure with him—a relationship with him—to walk with him and depend on him for our “daily” bread. Look at how Jesus lived out this adventure, inviting the disciples to join him along the way. He’s still doing the very same thing with us now.

As you pray about the future, your career, family, where you will live, etc., I want to encourage you with this: Don’t seek a destination, but rather seek a direction. Then, pursue it with all your heart.

February 16, 2009 - This morning God woke me up at 4:30am. I really wanted to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t, so I got up, got my Bible, made coffee, and sat down to read. How did I know that today was the day that God was going to break me of the bitterness that has plagued me for over nine years? God took me back to a place where I have allowed hurt to turn my life down a path I never intended to follow. He showed me how I took something personally, that wasn’t really about me at all. Today, God allowed me to see from HIS perspective and, like Paul, it was almost as if scales fell from my eyes. I feel relief washing over me and this terrible burden I have been carrying of unforgiveness is gone. I am ready now to move forward and I have a genuine excitement for what lies ahead.

When I think of poison, I often see images in my mind of Nazi spies biting down on hidden cyanide capsules. Thank goodness that’s not the way bitterness works in our lives, but its slow and steady takeover of our thoughts and attitudes can be just as deadly. We have to remember that Satan’s plan is to isolate us. He knows that relationships – friends, family, and community – provide the best defensive shield we have against his personal attacks. Bitterness sneaks in so easily, and before we know it, we no longer see or think clearly.

Ask God to reveal where you have allowed bitterness to enter in and let him walk you through the healing process. It’s necessary, and it’s worth it!

January 4, 2009 – I fear that no matter what I do, I will never find peace and happiness. I love my family so very much. If nothing else good ever comes my way, my life is blessed far beyond what I deserve because of my three wonderful sons. I so much want for them to be men of faith, honor, courage, integrity, and love.

It is really easy to become discouraged when we look to find fulfilment this side of heaven. For much of my life, I tried in vain to live up to everyone’s expectations of me. I wanted to be recognized by others for my hard work and my commitment to God. The problem though was, inside I was being torn apart. I knew how my thoughts strayed. I knew how often I lost my temper or gave in to resentment or hopelessness. No matter what success I experienced, another failure was just around the corner. The constant pendulum swings from highs to lows was exhausting and depressing.

My sights were set on this world.

At that time, I wasn’t spending any quality time in God’s word. When I finally did, restoration, healing, and hope flooded in through the writings of Paul. For the first time since I was a teenager, I lifted my eyes up and looked to the heavens. It made all the difference for me, and it will make all the difference for you.

Back in 2008, I wrote these words:
At this point I want a new start. I know my heart aches for more than what I am experiencing in my walk with Christ. It’s all my fault. My sin haunts me and keeps me spiritually crippled. I want to escape. I am foolish and impulsive, quick to act and slow to pray. God help me and forgive me.

We are living in a world at war. Satan wants you to believe that you are forever stuck in the grip of sin. It is just part of what it means to be human. While our sin nature and flesh do fight to control us, the good news is that we have been delivered by Jesus from sin’s control. The work of Christ on the cross has completely overcome sin’s power over us. We have become a new creation. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can resist sin and experience true freedom. It is a battle, but one we can win daily as we break the hold that even the most persistent of our unwanted habits attempts to maintain.

Believe this truth. Your old life has been crucified. It has passed away and its power has vanished forever. You have been set free so that all things can become new. New habits replace old ones. Through the help of the Holy Spirit you have the power to say “No!” to the old and live the new life you were made to live.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up! Start fresh again today and every day. God’s grace and mercy are never ending.