The beauty of a relationship with Christ is we don't need to "see" - for we can have confidence in a God who loved us so much to send His Son to die and rise from the grave for us. Faith is not in what we can see - nor in what we can understand…

Discipline is a vital component of our relationship with God. It is about fostering habits that draw us closer to Him, guiding our hearts and actions toward a life that reflects His love and teachings.

No matter who runs our country or our workplace – or despite the various ways we might feel “tied down” in life – the freedom mentioned in Psalm 119:32 is a freedom of the heart. It can persist despite any circumstance – poverty, loss, unpopularity, loneliness, betrayal. In fact, it thrives in such circumstances. This is why we choose not to walk, but to run toward Christ daily on this wild adventure of life.

Like Martha, we often get caught up in what we’re trying to do for the Lord that we sometimes forget to just stop and spend time with Him. Jesus pointed Martha to care for her soul, which was the better portion to her many tasks of service. Matthew Henry comments that “Worldly business is a snare to us when it hinders us from serving God and getting good to our souls.”

Ask yourself: what am I striving for right now? How have I spent my time and money this year? If I died today and gave an account to God, would He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” – or would He say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Eternal life begins with knowing Christ and is uninterrupted even in physical death. Therefore, as Christians, we understand that to die is to live more fully, more triumphantly, and more blessedly.

But Jesus is the only way to God, the only way to heaven, and the only way to live eternally in the richness and blessing of God. Apart from Him, we would remain on the path that leads to destruction and spend eternity in hell for our sin against a holy, just, and righteous God.

We all have seasons, but my point here is that we cannot compare the season we’re experiencing to the season of another believer. It never seems fair to look sideways at your prospering neighbor while you feel like you’re neck deep in muck. Focus on where you are and no matter whether you face a tough season or plentiful one, give thanks.

In the same context that Jesus calls Himself The Good Shepherd, He also refers to Himself as the door of the sheep. Not only does He watchfully and tenderly care for His sheep, He also guards the door from enemies and leads His sheep to green pastures. Jesus is the door to all that is good, and the only door by which such riches may be attained and everlastingly enjoyed. He is the door to heaven itself.

Is Jesus the light of your life, or are you walking in darkness? Apart from Jesus Christ, we are blind people being led by blind people, and a blind world cannot come to have any light but in Christ alone.

No matter what chaos surrounds us, what pests are destroying the garden or what the weather is like, where do our eyes go? Where are we looking for guidance, strength, and sustenance? Sunflowers have the answer. Look to the Son.

As we grow older, we tend to become jaded. Inevitably we are hurt by others and we become guarded. We are burdened by life's many responsibilities and forget how to play. We lose our desire to explore and get outside of our "norm", so we settle for a lifestyle of complacency. There is so much out there that God still has for you if you would come to Him with child-like faith.

When we disregard God’s commands and give into our sinful desires, it’s like staring into the headlights of an oncoming eighteen-wheeler and hoping not to crash. Whenever we allow our eyes to look upon the things that God clearly commands us not to look upon, this leads to patterns of unrighteous living, which eventually leads to death.

Through footprints unseen, we have confidence that God causes "all things to work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). With each passing wave, let these trials have their full effect: producing an enduring faith that makes us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The human heart is prone to wander which is why it is so important to remind ourselves of the truths of Jesus every day, every hour, every moment if need be. The gospel reminds us that Jesus is the only thing worth putting all faith and trust in. His love for us was proven at the cross, and for those who believe, it is not only what we fall back on, but the very thing on which we stand.

I've found that as these doubts arrive, God gives us sweet assurances of his grace as we continue to press into him. He is true to his word. He WILL work in and through us if we believe and obey Him. My prayer is that we will no longer be surprised, but never cease to be amazed that we serve a loving God who saves sinners, transforms lives and uses ordinary people like you and me to accomplish his purposes in a broken world.