A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. Luke 6:45 (NKJV) Jesus told a story called the Parable of the Sower to teach us a very important lesson. In fact, this lesson is so important that we can’t understand any of His lessons if we don’t get this one (Mark 4:13). The parable describes four kinds of heart attitudes that prevail in people. Three of these attitudes can prevent us from receiving from God. Only one is a Christ-like attitude that allows God’s Word to produce a harvest of good things in our lives. You see, when people read or hear God’s Word, it …

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18 (NLT) The easiest way to ensure you will not miss your destiny is to keep moving forward. God wants you to dream big, but He also wants you to take action. If your dream is to start your own business, take a management course. If you want to be a songwriter, turn off the television and pick up a pen. When you move towards your goal, God can place the right people and opportunities in your path to help make your dreams come true. Sadly, …

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:26 (NLT) Faith and work are not mutually exclusive. Some think they can believe their way into a good life. They believe that God will take care of their marriage and kids. He will put food on the table and ensure that everything in life works out. If they have prayed, working at a solution would mean they have stopped believing God for the answer. After praying, they think that seeking out medical assistance or natural remedies for an illness would show a lack of faith. This is the wrong perspective entirely. Faith without works is dead. God does not stop working when you start. He works in …

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? Psalm 13:1 (NLT) We wear masks around others to protect ourselves from criticism and rejection. We are careful to hide our vulnerabilities. We even struggle to let our guard down in our closest relationships for fear of getting hurt. But we do not have to fear anything with God. You can tell God about your fears, frustrations, anger and disappointments. The emotions you struggle with are not too much for Him to handle. He will not judge you for venting. King David often poured out his frustrations and fears to God. In Psalm 142:2, he said, I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my …

Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident… Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Psalm 27:3, 13 (NLT) When people define confidence, they often think of it as believing in yourself and your power or ability. That is not how God defines confidence. God-confidence is completely different. It comes from knowing that you are priceless to Him—so much so that He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to die for you. It is a certainty that there is nothing you cannot handle with His help. Essentially, God-confidence is a confidence in God, not in self. It is really, …