“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:46–48 (NLT) As I’ve studied God’s Word, I’ve found it’s clear that God desires us to lead incredible lives. In Luke 6:46–49, Jesus shares a powerful analogy that shows the importance of building our lives on Him so we can do just that.   You see, in today’s verses, the house represents your …

Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. Psalm 2:8–9 (NLT) Years ago, God showed me how to deal more effectively with the enemy. At the time, I was consistently on the defensive, putting up with the enemy’s attacks. A financial or family-related attack would come flying in one way, and I’d throw up my shield of faith and knock it away. Then all of a sudden—incoming again! And I’d pull up my shield once more.   I held the territory that God had already given me. However, I tended just to push the enemy back to his borders and out …

When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. Joshua 6:20 (NLT) Taking new ground often requires a battle.   Let’s say you want to move forward financially. While it’s easy to blame factors like the economy or your location, the truth is, those aspects can’t suppress a child of God.   Now, we have an enemy whose personal goal is to stop us, contain us or distract us from whatever we’re trying to do for God. So, as believers, we need to be careful we don’t develop an attitude of, “Well, if God wants me to have something, He …

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV) What storms are you facing? Whatever it is, treat it like a valley you’re just passing through.   You see, although Psalm 23 says that God leads us by still waters and green pastures, that doesn’t mean we should camp out there forever! However, it does mean we can enjoy God’s peace and presence even as we walk through hard times.   I think the key word we need to pay attention to in today’s verse is the word “through.” Notice that David doesn’t say, “Even though I will never walk through any valleys,” or, “Even though I will never …

Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” Romans 15:1–2 (MSG) The slogan around the world during the 2020 pandemic was, “We are in this together.” But this motto is nothing new to believers. In fact, God’s Word reminds us over and over to be there for each other in trying times (Romans 12:15, Galatians 6:2).   Just like we appreciate and often cling to other people’s encouraging words, helping hands or timely hugs when we’re in the middle of a crisis, it’s important to come alongside someone else when they’re in one, too.   Life is not just about walking through our own valley experiences. …