I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) This may surprise you, but much of the stress you face is healthy. We all encounter stressors in life and our bodies have been designed to respond to these perceived threats by preparing to either fight or run away. If you come face to face with a tiger, for example, this temporary response is necessary. You need your heart rate and adrenaline levels to dramatically increase to be prepared to either fight or outrun the tiger. Stressors at work and at home are not all bad either. Deadlines, the nervousness you feel before an exam or a public speaking engagement– these stressors push you to levels of optimal alertness, behavioural and cognitive …

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10–11 (NLT) God’s plans for you are absolutely huge. According to Psalm 139:13, God formed your inward parts. He placed gifts and abilities inside you so you could achieve amazing things in this lifetime. You can’t even imagine the great plan He’s prepared for you or how He aims to use you for His exciting purposes (1 Corinthians 2:9). Not only that, but God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think, according to the power that works in …

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) Jesus understands people who are lost without Him more than we ever could. Religious thinking condemns people with the fact that they are sinners headed for hell. I can’t stand it when people preach at others this way because Jesus didn’t. Although it’s true that everyone needs to realize that they need Jesus and come to Him, Jesus doesn’t condemn people. Jesus has compassion for people. He understands, picks them up, brushes the dirt off their face and goes to work to build them up. Churches can be so antagonistic. Yes, we are soldiers of Jesus Christ and the …

I will send you the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. Luke 24:49 (NLT) Some Christians are really good at being contemporary, but they have lost touch with the Spirit. They have plenty of rapport with people, but don’t seem to try to work with or hear from God’s Spirit. The problem is that without Holy Spirit, they have no access to His miracle producing power. Without Him, they offer very little to truly help hurting, lost people who need more than psychological comfort for the pain they’re in. This is why Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive Holy Spirit before heading …

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 (NLT) God doesn’t want you to think you’re worthless. That doesn’t please Him. God wants you to realize that you can be the best. Many Christians may have a real problem with this statement because they have been taught that to follow Christ is to be lowly. Our verse today is absolutely true, God opposes the proud, which is why I’m not saying that God wants you to think you are better than everyone else. However, He does want you to be the very best you can be because this is who he created you to be. When you think about it, believing that you are capable of anything God asks you to …