What to do when you feel down

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.Psalm 3:3 NKJV When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: (1) Spend more time with God. "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord" (1 Kings 19:11 NKJV). …

Forgiving others

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.Jeremiah 31:18 KJV The Bible tells us: "Isaac's servants dug...a well...But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's …

Are you doing it for the right reasons?

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.Hebrews 11:5 NKJV When you grow up with rejection, it can manifest itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or …

Where there is strife, sow seeds of peace

Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil.James 3:16 NCV When a well-known pastor was asked by a skeptic, "Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?" he smiled and replied, "Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?" Seriously, if you have …

The story of Cyprian

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV Cyprian, a wealthy noble who lived during the Third Century, enjoyed galloping about Carthage in his gold and bejeweled chariot. He …

Be gentle

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.Proverbs 13:18 NIV When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. "Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper" (James 1:19 PHPS). If you do the first two things, the …

Go back and make things right

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.Psalm 78:4 NIV A legacy, good or bad, is something handed down from one person to another. I hope, over time, God has healed your hurts and you …

The case for God

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.Romans 1:20 NLT They say, "There are none so blind as those who will not see!" Richard …

How to be fruitful

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.Luke 8:14 NLT You must eliminate the weeds. In His famous parable of the sower, Jesus said …

You don’t have to hide anymore

Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”Genesis 3:9 NLT When you don't feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relationships can only be built when you stop hiding and become …