Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Do you ever get frustrated trying to change areas of your life? Maybe you would like to become a better person, parent, spouse or friend, and you’re frustrated because your efforts don’t seem to be yielding results. Or you might be trying to make better choices, but you seem to fall back to the same old habits. It’s great that you were trying to better yourself, I’m not suggesting that you should stop doing that. However, you may be missing a very important piece of the puzzle. You see, you will never find joy in self-improvement. Fulfillment isn’t found in completed tasks. It’s …

For we are God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) I once attended a business training course on the power of positive reinforcement. To prove the point that everyone needs to be affirmed, regardless of age or position, the presenter asked an executive to come to the front of the room. The audience was asked to give her all-out clapping, whistling and shouting standing ovation. At first, she smiled and seemed embarrassed but, as the applause continued, big tears began to roll down her cheeks. She knew that they weren’t really clapping for anything she did, but being recognized just feels good. God designed you this way. You need to know that you are special and important. There’s nothing wrong with this desire. We all need to …

And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 (ESV) It’s shocking how many people believe their feelings are truth. Now, we know that feelings are real. By that, I mean that our feelings exist. But if I lived according to my feelings, I wouldn’t get up and preach half the time! I love Sundays, but sometimes I wake up feeling tired and think, “It’d be nice to just go out for breakfast with Sally instead.” I’ve learned to not submit to feelings that don’t match up with what God’s Word says and His call on my life. For example, sometimes I might feel unappreciated. Meanwhile, it’s not true. My wife, kids and friends appreciate me. I might feel …

The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway… And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. 1 Kings 11:2–3 (NLT) As believers, we come across people all the time who don’t believe what we believe. Following Jesus’ example, we are to remain open to these people, showing them unconditional love and friendship. However, we do have to be careful. As Solomon discovered with his foreign wives, the enemy may use these people to try and tempt us to submit to things that are wrong. That’s why we need to be careful when choosing our close relationships. It’s far harder …

So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. Ephesians 6:13 (GNT) While addressing a conference, a speaker from the Navy Seal once told everyone to raise their hands above their head as high as they could. The crowd obliged, but then he said, “Alright, now raise them a little further,” and everyone raised them a few more inches. His point? We can always go further than we think. What I love about Navy Seals is their relentless, diehard resistance to giving up and giving in. If there’s only one Seal member left in a mission, he’ll still resist the enemy …