The world doesn’t always feel safe and hospitable toward us. Sometimes it feels downright hostile, and we just have to push our way through to stay ahead of trouble. There are lots of things that we experience that elicit fear from us, including concerns about whether we might lose our job, the fear evoked by the imminent sickness or death of a loved one, concerns about the future of our children, fear of being alone or unloved, or fears [...]
We know the Bible verses about God giving us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4), that God has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and that the Lord directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). But what does that tangibly mean with reference to our spiritual goals? It can be a challenge to weigh what we want with what we think God has for us. We want to live in a way that honors God and puts our faith into practice [...]
God knows how to maximize the gifts and abilities that He placed in us. While there are elements of our purpose and destiny that require proving and maturity, we need to realize that the Holy Spirit wants to mobilize us wherever we are now. It is often through a process of spiritual development that God works to grow what has been planted (1 Corinthians 3:7). Through our spiritual development, He activates a testimony in us that witnesses who God [...]
