True Value

While our strengths and abilities make us useful, it is our weaknesses that make us usable. Our failures and shortcomings can serve to keep us dependent on God - and that is when real power and victory are seen. His strength is perfected in my weakness.

Godliness

Godliness - or Christianity - cannot be merely a claim that we make. Rather it must be a reality that we live. And that reality must be the true motive behind our actions every day. Without it, godliness isn't true.

Not Submitted

Anyone who isn't fully submitted to God will end up doing whatever seems right at the time. This tendency exists in all of us. (It is part of our sin nature.)

Strength & Weakness

Contrary to popular opinion, great strength in one area of our lives does not make up for great weakness in another areas of our lives. Consider that a great leader doesn't necessarily make a great father.

The thing is though, that God can use a person of great faith despite his or her weaknesses, mistakes and past failures. So what can make up for great weakness in other areas of our lives is God!

Power & People

People who desire (and get) power always far outnumber those who are able to use power wisely when they have it. Similarly, people who desire (and get) money or other material resources always far outnumber those who are good stewards of it.

Want proof? Power and wealth both have a way of taking over and controlling the person who possesses either of them. This is especially true, for example, in cases of inherited wealth or inherited power.

Sin's Impact

All sin harms us and it harms others. In fact, it is impossible to sin and only have it be about us. But all sin is ultimately against God Himself. Sin disregards God's commands and His authority over us. The Bible tells us that sin "grieves the Holy Spirit." Even God suffers from my sin.

God First

If God is truly first in your life, He will affect every dimension of your life. Notice that this goes well beyond what you do in church. In fact, it goes well beyond who you are in church. But - it is often only after we begin to really obey God and allow Him to have this affect that we find the strength, courage and resources to live our lives His way.

Roots of Defeat

Chronic opposition (or oppression) can often crush and defeat a person. Or it can make them a ruthless fighter. The problem with ruthless fighters is that they most often tend to be manipulative, lying, untrusting, unloving, deceitful and conniving. Know someone who has been through great hardship and yet survived? If they appear to be ruthless fighters they may be fighting with all of their character defects!

Caring Leaders

Those who lead must never forget - or neglect - the spiritual condition of those being led. A true leaders is concerned about the wholeness of his or her people.

Personal Accountability

Overlooking personal accountability - not seeing my part in my problem - takes me to the very edge of rebellion against God and backsliding from my own self-proclaimed values. There is no mistake about it; whatever I have in my life that I see as a problem --- I have some personal responsibility for it. Not identifying and dealing with that personal responsibility ensures that the problem will remain.

Faith's Allure

Faith in the one true God offers no short range benefits that are appealing to our sinful nature. In fact, it would be safe to say that true Christianity really needs a good public relations agent! The essence of all sin is selfishness - and God doesn't allow it. The essence of Christianity is selflessness - which is God's way of life. God requires it of all people who are truly His.

Attractive Religion

Pagan religions tend to appear more attractive to the sensual nature. They feel good. They also usually offer more short-range benefits. One of their most attractive features, however, is that people can remain selfish and yet fulfill their religious requirements. Such religions seem to allow their followers to do almost anything they wish and live any way they want. In fact, study of these religions reveals that most were developed so that their followers could do what they want and live the way they want.

Look closely at so-called Christian religions. Even these can be false.

Self Sufficiency

Self sufficiency is an enemy when it comes to Christianity. It causes us to believe we can always do what needs to be done - in our own strength instead of in God's strength. The truth of the matter is that a real Christ-follow already knows he or she is not self-sufficient.

What's Behind War

Whenever the Israelites (in the Old Testament) chose to follow false gods, war was inevitable. Without God at the center of their national life, pressure from the outside soon became greater than the power from within. Keeping God at the center of our lives ensures we will always be stronger than our enemies.

Pray for Forgiveness

When we pray for forgiveness of sin, what we are really asking is for something that we totally do not deserve and could never be truly worthy of. Isn't it miraculous that God gives it to us anyway!

Real Heroes

Real heroes recognize the futility of human effort without God's guidance and power. Often we think of heroes as people who have accomlished great feats. However, the truest heroes are those through whom God has accomplished great feats.

Easy Obedience

Obedience to God is easy when what God requires fits into our plans. But our commitment to God is really tested when His plans run contrary to our plans.

Destroy To Follow

Following God requires most of us to destroy whatever gets in the way of our following Him. What do you need to destroy today?

Assumptions on Others

Assuming the worst about the intentions of others only brings trouble. Better to give everyone the benefit of the doubt by assuming the very best you can about their intentions. Has someone offended you? Decide up front to assume that his or her intentions were sincere and genuine. Such conclusions make forgiveness much more attainable. Further, assuming the best about the intentions of others is really the foundation of reconciliation. So if you want to be reconciled with someone, start by assuming the best regarding their intentions!

Doing & Being

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about what we are to do - that we overlook thinking about who we are to be. Seriously, which do you think God would rather have you spend your time thinking about?

Prayer & Purpose

Prayer is not an alternative for preparation. Faith is not a substitute for hard work. If your prayers seem to have gone unanswered, perhaps that you need is within your reach already. Pray instead for the wisdom to see it. Ask God to give you discernment to understand just how He has provided for your true needs and the energy and motivation it takes to follow His will (i.e., make use of His provision.)

Leadership Test

One of the best tests of a good leader is his or her willingness and ability to train someone to take their place. Solid leaders always have a successor in mind. Moreover, the existence of that succession plan in the leader's mind will always lead to action on his or her part in mentoring and raising up that next leader.

See It God's Way

The Bible tells us to "lean not on your own understanding." We must adjust our thinking to God's way of thinking in order to see His standards for successful living. Put another way, we must be purposeful about trying to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, think with His mind --- and of course, speak with His tongue.

Knowing Enough

God has given us enough knowledge - enough capacity for knowledge - to enable us to obey Him. That is all. Disobedience is a willful act and never due to a lack of knowledge. The proof of that is the fact that education - informing someone of their wrongness - isn't usually enough to correct it. Ignorance (or the claim of not knowing) is then not an excuse for disobedience of God's will.

God's Knowledge

Even the smartest of humans lacks the capacity to know everything that God knows. In fact, even if God revealed all knowledge to us, it would still be beyond our comprehension. We are created beings. But knowledge is not created. Rather it is discovered. What is created cannot contain what is discovered or revealed.

Doing Wrong

When we decide to do what we know is wrong, we plant an evil seed that begins to grow out of control. It eventually yields a crop of sorrow and pain.

Leadership Critics

Criticism will always be directed toward those who lead. It always has been. Isn't it interesting how most books on leadership fail to address this? It would seem that the most effective leaders are the ones who can handle criticism at its worst.

God's Strength

Our strength to do God's work and follow His will comes from trusting Him. It has never been enough to believe in God or believe in His promises. Trust is the proof of belief. Action is the proof of trust.

Observing Wrong

It is unjust to overlook wrongdoing. Such things deserve to be confronted, called out, held accountable and challenged to become right. Similarly though, it is wrong to jump to conclusions about guilt or intent. Only God really can know the truth about the one who does wrong.

Rebellion's Roots

The path to open rebellion against God begins with dissatisfaction and skepticism, then moves to grumbling about both God and present circumstances. Next come bitterness and resentment, followed by rebellion and open hostility or anger. these attitudes lead to rebellion and separation from God. So the challenge is to recognize when these attitudes are creeping up on us - and do something to resist them.