And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 2 Samuel 6:14 (NLT)  Do you know anyone who always seems excited about what they’re doing? People like this are electric. They’re fun to be around, and their enthusiasm is contagious.  King David had a depth of passion that could only come from God. If you aren’t convinced that passion can come from God, consider that one of the root words for enthusiasm is “theos,” so to be enthused, or “in theos,” means to be in God. He’s the creator of excitement and enthusiasm!  David’s passion was obvious to everyone around him, and because of this he attracted an army of mighty men who were unstoppable. Together, they overcame impossible situations. …

“If a fellow believer hurts you go tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend.” Matthew 18:15 (MSG)  Everyone needs to become good at confrontation. We can’t sit back and hope that things will work themselves out in our relationships. Whether you like it or not, confrontation is going to be a part of your life, so you may as well become great at it.  Of course, the confrontation I’m talking about is win-win. In this way, it is more like coaching, especially if you are a leader who is confronting someone you influence. It is done to benefit everyone involved.  You see, confronting someone is not the same thing as berating them. You don’t attack the …

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)  I remember the first time someone said to me, “You have to choose what you will lose.” I didn’t like that saying because it seemed too negative, but as I thought about it, I realized there is an element of truth to it. Sometimes we really do need to choose what we are willing to lose.  For example, if I have a friend who keeps tempting me to do things that I know are wrong, I have a choice to make. If I confront this friend and tell him to stop trying to convince me to do these things, I’m taking a chance that I may lose the friendship if he doesn’t …

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)  The last in our series of seven powerful prayers for moms is a crucial one: “I walk with God’s strength through every day.”  On a fishing trip one day, I looked up and saw an eagle soaring overhead. He wasn’t flapping hard. He wasn’t manufacturing the wind somehow. He was simply enjoying himself. When the Bible talks about rising with wings like eagles, that’s what I picture. What’s interesting is that the word wind in the Bible is often associated with Holy Spirit. When the wind of the Spirit hits your life, you rise …

No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. Psalm 91:10–12 (NLT)  Yesterday we saw how God has promised us peace and a sound mind. Today let’s look at the sixth promise in our series of powerful declarations for moms: “My family and I walk in divine protection—always.”  As a parent, it’s easy to worry about the safety and wellbeing of your kids. When you hear stories of tragic accidents, the question that tends to grip you is, “What if it happens to my family?” I’ve simply decided not to go there. I don’t …