Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Psalm 94:16 (NLT) Over a century ago, Reverend Charles Aked declared that “for evil men to accomplish their purpose, it is only necessary that good men should do nothing.” That powerful statement remains as true as ever today. Speaking up and taking action requires courage. As a preacher’s kid growing up in a small town, I was often the target of bullies. One time, I remember being backed into a corner at school by a much larger kid who started hitting me. I remember not having the strength to escape him because of our size and age difference. Suddenly, another kid named Owen (who was also older and bigger than …

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8 (NLT) What are your dreams for the future? You might dream of a better life for your family, more financial stability, better living conditions, or improved health and relationships. Those are all great dreams, but let me tell you about the best dream of all. Paul spoke of this dream in Philippians 3:7–11. His greatest desire was to know God (v. 8). Have you developed a passionate desire to know God yourself? You need to know that this desire is one you can increase intentionally. You can dream of looking forward to your time with God. Picture yourself sitting down with your Bible, smiling as you …

The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humbles themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11–12 (NLT) God has given you dreams and desires in life, but you need to realize something very important. The pinnacle of success, when it comes to God’s call on your life, is not necessarily to be “number one.” We tend to look up to people who rise to the top all on their own, and we admire movie heroes who save the day Lone Ranger-style. We think that success is getting the credit, rising to the top spot, being number one, being the best, and doing it alone. As a result, we’ve created a culture where we don’t feel …

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 (NKJV) When you think about your future, what do you picture? There is great power in picturing the life of your dreams, and I’m not just talking about your career or financial situation. Picture a great future in those areas for sure, but what about having a dream for your relationships? If you’re married, do you still have great expectations for your life together? Before you were married, you probably dreamed of what your life would be like as a couple. But maybe you’ve been married a while, and you’ve let that dream die. Even after all the sleepless nights, painful misunderstandings, fights and disappointments, you can …

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. Ephesians 3:20 (AMPC) When you talk about your vision for the future, you may describe your career goals. While this is great, a successful career can’t be your only dream or you’ll sacrifice everything else to get it. You need a dream for every area of life. In fact, every one of God’s promises for you as a believer provides the basis for something you can dream about. For example, you are promised health, so …