Listening Enriches Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. Proverbs 12:11 (NLT) In the Christian life, growth does not happen by accident, but by intention. God calls us to cultivate our spiritual life with diligence, attention, and obedience. Listening to God’s voice, receiving wise counsel,…
The Power of Wise Counsel “Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.” Proverbs 12:14 (NLT) God did not design us to walk alone or make important decisions without guidance. Many times mistakes don’t come from a lack of good intentions, but from a lack of wise counsel. A wise word can spare…
There Is No Victory Without a Battle “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT) On the journey of faith, many times we want promises without process, results without resistance, and victory without…
An Attitude of Excellence and Vision “Each of these living beings had four faces: the face of a human looking forward, the face of a lion looking to the right, the face of an ox looking to the left, and the face of an eagle looking backward.” Ezekiel 1:10 (NLT) God showed Ezekiel an impressive…
Dream + Action = Vision “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31 (NKJV) God places dreams in the heart, but He didn’t call us to live on ideas alone. In the Kingdom, dreams become vision when they are matched with concrete steps. Some people…
Pride Breaks You “Whoever is stubborn and refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.” Proverbs 29:1 (NLT) Pride is one of the most dangerous traps because it doesn’t always show up at first. Sometimes it disguises itself as “a strong personality,” “that’s just how I am,” or “no one is going to…
Falling Isn’t Failing — Staying Down Is “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 (NLT) In the Christian life, we all face moments of stumbling, weakness, or discouragement. Sometimes we fall because of wrong decisions, other times because of…
Obedience that is born from the heart “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the…
The Word Reveals the Heart “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) We live in a world where it’s easy to pretend. We can smile on…
Correction Helps You Grow “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” Proverbs 15:31–32 (NLT) No one likes to be corrected. Our first reaction is often to defend ourselves, justify ourselves,…