Throughout the Bible, we’re called to “be thankful” and “give thanks.” Why? Because we have a lot to be grateful for! We won’t become thankful by accident, but with an intentional habit of gratitude, we’ll become even better versions of ourselves as we follow Jesus.

The Basic Habits of Gratitude

The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their trouble. — William Penn

As we read God’s Word, we can see the theme of being thankful. There are hundreds of verses telling us to give thanks or offer praise to God. Outside of the Bible, you’ll find lots of articles and research stating the benefits that come with being a grateful person. People who are thankful are known to be depressed less, get better grades in school, sleep better, stay healthy, have deeper friendships, and have a brighter outlook on life. Basically, gratitude is good for you!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Living as grateful people is God’s will for our lives. God knew before the beginning of time how positively gratitude would affect us — long before an article or book was written about the topic. So, whether your life is moving along smoothly or it feels like you’re walking in quicksand, consider adding these daily habits to your life:

• Create new pathways. Dr. Caroline Leaf, cognitive neuroscientist and author, said, “As you think, you change the structure of your brain.” This isn’t easy. But, we have a choice in what we think about, so let’s allow thoughts of gratefulness to fill our minds.
• Choose five things. Make a daily habit to say or write five things you’re thankful for. You can do it any time of the day — morning or night!
• Set a gratitude alarm. Choose different times in the day. When the alarm goes off, ask God to bring to mind the blessings and gifts in your life and thank Him for them.
• Tell someone. Every day, talk to someone about what you’re thankful for. Maybe it’s their friendship, the sunrise, a powerful moment with God, or an unexpected blessing you received. Saying it makes it more real.

It’s vital that we make our gratitude habitual so that when life’s storms come upon us, we know how to navigate the rough waters. And part of this is trusting God and even choosing to be grateful when we don’t understand the world around us.

As we build this gratitude muscle, it won’t be something we have to think about — it’ll become as natural as breathing.

• Proverbs 3:5–6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 11:1

Relationships

Relating to people is the heartbeat of our lives. We’ll rarely go a day without having interactions with other people in our many roles. We’re daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and more. As we think about the different roles we have, let’s consider our gratitude level. Are we thankful for the people God has put in our lives? Do we express our gratefulness to (and for) them?

Maybe you’re in a marriage that’s become stale. It could be that there’s tension with a longtime friend. Or perhaps, you feel there’s too much stress between you and your child. Regardless if there’s strain or not, we have clear instructions from Romans 12 about how to treat others: be devoted to each other, honor each other, practice hospitality, and live at peace with each other, to name a few. As we learn how to be grateful for the people in our lives, here are some extra tips to help us:

• Replace complaints with compliments. This can be a challenge, can’t it? Most of us are prone to see the things that frustrate us instead of the things that bless us. Let’s choose to see the good!
• Serve someone. There’s someone in your life who’s load is heavier than yours. Show your gratitude by doing something that would lighten their burden.
• Write it down. Write down something you’re grateful for about the people in your life. Write it on a note and leave it for them to find, or have an ongoing list and give it to them when you reach 50 or 100 things. Imagine the look on their faces!
• Just say “thanks.” When we have eyes to see the gifts and blessings in our lives, we’ll see there’s much to be thankful for. So, daily thank your spouse, your child, your closest friend, or someone else for one thing.

It’s been said that we are like the people we spend the most time with. Who we allow in our personal inner circles affects our gratitude quotient. Be mindful of who you spend time with. One of the more challenging things in our relationships is that we may be willing to change, but other people may not. Sometimes that means relational adjustments are necessary.

No matter who’s in our lives, we can’t neglect our role in growing our gratitude. As Galatians 6:9 NIV says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” As we express our thankfulness for — and to — the people in our lives, we’ll be overwhelmed by how it changes us, and in the process, we’ll get to watch it impact them.

• Romans 12:9–18, Galatians 6:9

Health

In Psalm 139, we see a beautiful blueprint of how intimately God knows each of us. He “created our inmost beings,” “knit us together in our mother’s womb,” and “saw our unformed body.” He calls us “fearfully and wonderfully made.” How amazing is our God!

In this fallen world in which we live, there will be struggles each of us face. Sometimes a health challenge is thrust upon us, while other times, we bring things upon ourselves.

Regardless of where we are in these areas of our health, when we wake up each day, we have reason to thank God for our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. Let’s consider these habits as we walk in gratitude for our health:

• Honor your body. Our bodies are God’s temple; meaning, His Spirit dwells inside of us. If we’re able to exercise and eat healthy food, let’s show our gratitude to God for having the ability to be active and choose the right foods for our bodies.
• Strengthen your mind. Sadly, mental illness is a real threat and often keeps people imprisoned. Most of us know someone struggling with some version of it and that can be hard to navigate. If we don’t struggle with this, let’s be grateful to God for the ability to help others through their difficult season.
• Grow spiritually. Reading the Bible, attending church, and gathering with fellow followers of Jesus is forbidden in certain parts of the world, yet many people risk their lives to do it anyway. If you have the freedom to pursue Jesus and share Him with those around you, be thankful for this amazing gift!

In this life, we’ll experience many health issues. Some seasons will be harder than others. No matter what you’re facing in the spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical health realm, start each day with Psalm 118:24 ESV, which says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

• Psalms 118:24, Psalms 139:1–16, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Career

When God created Adam, He gave him a job. Genesis 2:15 (NIV) tells us that God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to “work it and take care of it.” So, work has been around since the beginning of time!

All of us work at something. Before we can earn a monetary wage, we may work at school or do chores at our house. As we age, we land that first job and find a newfound self-respect as we earn our first paycheck. Into adulthood, we find a role or career that suits us, even if it’s providing full-time care for our families at home.

No matter what each of our “careers” look like, we have the opportunity to live a life of gratitude for how God has brought us to where we are. Here are some ways to be grateful for the work God has given us to do:

• Change your lens. Even if you’re unhappy in your current job, be thankful for the ability to be employed (or stay at home with your family), and take time to pray for those who are struggling with unemployment..
• You earn something. Regardless of your income level, you can thank God for His provision in your life. You can be grateful for what you have, instead of focusing on what you don’t.
• List what you love. Every job comes with things you love. It could be actual health or retirement benefits, or it could be a close friend you’ve made while working there. Focusing on the good will strengthen your heart toward gratefulness.

As we think about our work, we may have jobs that can bring more stress than we’d like. It’s also true that some of us may be without work at this time. Regardless, we can implement Colossians 3:17 NIV as a guide in our work life, which says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” When we adjust our outlook and see the blessing in having a job or a role as a full-time caregiver, our enjoyment of our work life will increase drastically.

Whether you’re struggling to locate work or content where you are, always keep in mind that you’re working for God first. Do every task, assignment, and duty in His name, and thank Him regularly for the ability to do so.

• Genesis 2:15, Colossians 3:17

Finances

Did you know that the Bible talks about money, possessions, and accumulating wealth in over 2,000 verses? In fact, 11 of the 39 parables Jesus taught are about that very subject. It’s probably safe to say that God knew that there would be a temptation and tendency to handle money poorly.

Sadly, we do love and adore money more than we should. We often wish we had more. And we think that a possession or amount of money will bring lasting gratitude, when in reality, it’s just a temporary fix that will soon need to be satisfied once again.

James 1:17 (NIV) tells us that our God is the giver of “every good and perfect gift,” and if we’ll apply this, our mindset will change when it comes to our finances. Let’s consider these tips when it comes to growing our gratitude in this area:

• Where you live. Whether our home is big or small, most of us have a place to live. Thank God for the gift of a place to live regardless of size or style.
• What you possess. Many of us have clothes that we don’t wear, and have the ability to stream music or read books on a device that allows us to get any information we can find. But we still want what we don’t have. Take some time to reset your mind and thank God for the provision to have what you own.
• At your fingertips. If you have the ability to get clean water at the turn of a faucet or buy food from a grocery store, then you are more blessed than most in the world. Thank God for the gift of these conveniences.

No matter how much money we make, it’s wise to see our income as a gift. Chances are, there are more people in the world who might think the lives we live are amazing. Keeping our lives free from the love of money will help us be more satisfied. We do this by using money, not loving it.

At the root of our desire to gain more money or possessions is a misunderstanding of what we truly need. Philippians 4:19 NIV says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” God cares too much about us to give us everything we want, but loves us immensely and will meet our needs.

• Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:5, James 1:17

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What is God’s will? We’ve all wondered that at some point in our lives. Sometimes while we wait to know what it is, we find ourselves paralyzed. The Bible is our guide to understanding more about this topic.

What Is God’s Will for My Life?

The subject of God’s will is quite popular among Jesus followers. There’s one pressing question that many of us have: “What is God’s will for my life?” Because this can be a confusing thing for many, we often put our lives on hold until we “hear from God.” The truth is, we have heard from God about this very topic.

To understand God’s will, we must go to the Bible for guidance. There are Godly people around us who will have insight and advice that can be valuable. But it’s vital that we seek God’s truth above all. No amount of human reasoning or input can replace what we find in the Bible.

God’s will is specific, and it’s not. It’s specific in that we can read what God has in store for us. But, it’s not specific in that maybe we’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, “What is God’s will for my life?” maybe we should be asking a more simple, profound one: “What is God’s will?”

This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have good plans for you specifically. He does. Nor does it mean that He isn’t personally concerned with you. He is. And it doesn’t mean He hasn’t gifted you to do specific things on earth. He has. It’s just that God’s will and plan on this earth are to accomplish His purposes, not ours. God is the Heavenly Director, orchestrating His plan on earth, and we get to play our part in it.

Some things are easy to decipher while others require faith and patience. Author and pastor, John Piper, describes two wills of God: His Will of Decree and His Will of Command. God’s Will of Decree can’t be undone; it will happen. It’s often considered to be unknown or a mystery. God’s Will of Command is what God commands us to do. We can disobey these if we choose. These are things from the Bible that we know we’re to do.

• Luke 12:6–7, 1 Peter 4:10–11

The Known Will of God

A few passages in the Bible tell us exactly what it means to do God’s will.

• Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks always (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
• Do Good (1 Peter 2:15)
• Avoid Sexual Sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

It seems like such an odd mix of guidelines to follow, doesn’t it? Be joyful, pray a lot, show gratitude, do good, oh, and don’t be sexually immoral. But surely there’s more to God’s will than that, right?

We find many commands in the Bible from God. Here are some of them:

• Love God and others. (Matthew 22:37–39)
• Don’t gossip. (Ephesians 4:29)
• Don’t murder. (Matthew 5:21–26)
• Be honest. (Colossians 3:9)
• Be generous. (Luke 12:33)
• Help others. (Philippians 2:4)

It’s so common for followers of Christ to desire to make great strides in the kingdom of God. We want to change the world but don’t consider it very important to change our part of the world, let alone ourselves. We get laser-focused on the will of God that is Unknown to us and push the Known will of God aside. The Unknown will of God is much more exciting and grand to us. The Known will of God, which includes numerous dos and don’ts, tends to be boring and monotonous. We want to know what He has for us tomorrow but we disobey Him today.

What if we directed our desire to know God’s will to do the things we actually know to do? We may not know the path ahead for us when it comes to our career, but we know that it is God’s will for us to help others today. We may not know who our spouse will be in the future, but we know that it’s God’s will for us to give thanks in all things right now. And we certainly don’t know what our financial situation will be 15 years from now, but we know that it’s God’s will for us to be generous with our time and resources now.

God is looking for people who are faithful. Faithful in the little…first. Let’s be loving, kind, generous, honest, and grateful people because it’s in the small, seemingly ordinary things in life that give us a glimpse of God’s greater plan. It’s often the completion of ordinary tasks that leads to extraordinary outcomes.

• Luke 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 1 Peter 2:15

The Unknown Will of God

There’s so much about God’s will that we don’t know. No matter how smart we are or what we try, we’ll never know what’s going to happen in the future. That’s God’s realm. Not only that, but there are things we pray for — even beg God for — that won’t happen as we desire. We’ll still have questions until the day we depart this earth.

While we can’t know it all, we can know more of God’s will. It’s true. Romans 12:2 states that God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect and that we’ll be able to test and approve it. But, in order to do that, we have to do something that can be quite a challenge. We must eliminate our need or desire to conform to what everyone else is doing and instead, allow our minds to be transformed by God’s power.

This isn’t easy. It’s challenging because we are surrounded by influences that are far from godly. At every turn in our lives, we get bombarded by new ideas, new fascinations, and new people. New things aren’t bad, but we do have to figure out which ones pull us from God’s best. In order to grasp any part of God’s Unknown will, we have to bring Him our transformed mind. We have a transformed and renewed mind when we seek to follow Him in the Known will of God and the things He calls us to.

Think about it like this. When we’re living in sin, giving in to every harmful temptation that crosses our path, how likely is it that we’ll be able to truly discern what God’s best is? We wonder why we can’t sense where God is leading us, and it’s because our lives can sometimes be wrapped up in the pleasures of this world. But when we obey God’s Known will by loving others well, choosing to refrain from gossip, and walking honestly in our lives, won’t it be easier to possibly discern God’s Unknown will that is “good, pleasing, and perfect” because our minds have been transformed?

Today begins our daily opportunity to cast aside the standards our society puts in place as truth. As we do, we seek the power of God’s Holy Spirit to transform our minds. And with transformed minds there is no telling what God will reveal to us in His perfect timing.

• Luke 22:39–46, Romans 12:1–2

How Specific Is God’s Will?

Over the past two days, we’ve talked about both the Known and Unknown wills of God. But there’s one more aspect of God’s will that makes so many followers of Christ nervous. We often want to know just how specific His will is.

Should I buy this house or that house?
Should I go to this college or that college?
Should I marry this person or that person?
Should I choose this plan or that plan?
Should I take this job or that job?

The Bible does not answer these kinds of questions specifically, nor does it say, “You should be a doctor,” or “Marry Jim next year.” Maybe we need to take our specific questions to the Word of God and see how our desires and questions line up with the truth from God’s Word.

Is there one perfect person for you to marry? Probably not. If that were the case, then if one person chooses the person they shouldn’t have, then everyone else’s choice is wrong. Instead, what we do when it comes to spending our lives with someone is use wisdom and discernment as to what is God’s best.

Now, that doesn’t mean God won’t answer a specific prayer we pray. God loves us and often surprises us with exactly what we asked for! But, most of the time it’s wise to allow God’s Word to be our guide, for it has plenty to say about decisions we should make. Let’s pray for wisdom and discernment as we learn from God’s Word and consider asking these questions:

Would this choice contradict God’s truth?
Is this the wisest decision? (financial, relational, emotional, etc.)
Are any fears guiding my decision?
Would I regret this in a week, month, year, or ten years?
Which path brings me the most peace?
Have I sought Godly wisdom?

Too often we live with anxiety about making the wrong choice. Chances are strong that we’ll make some decisions we wish we hadn’t. Making wrong choices is often what leads us to making better choices in our future.

But no matter the choice we make, God’s love for us never increases or diminishes. He’s absolutely smitten with us. God’s transformative power changes us. With a renewed mind that is led by God’s Spirit, we can discern God’s best for our lives.

• Psalms 119:105, Proverbs 3:5–6, Proverbs 12:15, James 1:5–6, James 3:17

God’s Absolutes

When it comes to the will of God, there is so much more we know than don’t know. God’s Word is full of direction for us if we would have eyes to see. He has so much for us to do on this earth, not to earn His love, but to live out this abundant life on earth that we’ve been promised through Jesus. Instead of constantly thinking about what we wish we knew about God’s master plan, what if we focused on becoming who God wants us to be? When we do this, we’ll know what we should do.

Love God: Often we want to know what we should do. Well, this passage in Matthew 22 could not be more clear. Jesus said the greatest commandment given to us is to love God with our entire being. Not just a part of ourselves, where we compartmentalize our walk with Him, but our whole selves — body, soul, mind, and spirit.

Love People: Jesus also taught that loving our “neighbor as ourselves” was incredibly important, second only to loving God. It’s easy for us to love ourselves. We almost always make sure our needs are met. God calls us to love others the way we would care for and love ourselves.

Make Disciples: Since we are followers of Christ, we’re to take what we believe and invest it into others. God desires that everyone would come to know Him. Because we follow Jesus, we possess the antidote to the eternal sickness of sin that the world has. The gospel of Jesus is what the world needs to hear. This good news — which is what the word gospel means — is for everyone. So, whether someone knows Jesus as Savior and Lord or not, we can still share the good news with them.

When we focus on the most important callings that God has given to all followers of Christ, we will become less preoccupied with the unknown part of God’s will. And as we forsake the customs of the world and instead, choose to renew our minds, knowing what God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will is will be made evident to us.

• Matthew 22:37–39, Matthew 28:19–20, 1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9

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If you ever wonder what it means to really follow Jesus, you’re not alone. We tend to make this harder than it is. Let’s learn how Jesus calls us to follow Him, and His heart behind making such a bold request.

Come, Follow Me

No big shocker that following Jesus is costly. The best things in life always are. — Louie Giglio

Jesus called His disciples and used the phrase “follow me” over 20 times in the Bible. In the gospel of Matthew we read that they left their occupations and their families to follow Him. Matthew 4:20 NIV says, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” And later in verse 22 it says, “…and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” There is something profound in how they left. The disciples left to follow Jesus in two ways: instantly and completely.

They didn’t hesitate in their decision. They didn’t take anything with them. They didn’t run back home to bid farewell to those they loved. They simply said yes to His call. And for the next three years, they did everything with Jesus.

Many will say that what the disciples did was radical and over the top. And it was. To follow someone who merely spoke to them, someone who did not live in a palace as a king should, someone who grew up like them, and someone who came to serve is extreme. Yet, they were compelled to follow. There was an unexplainable, unfamiliar force that pulled them to Jesus.

What or who are you following? We all follow something or someone. It may be a person’s teachings, a family legacy, or a spiritual philosophy. Our devotion lies somewhere; we just have to admit where that is.

As Christ followers, the Someone we are to follow is Jesus. But often we get confused about what that really means for us here on earth. If you ask ten people their thoughts about following Jesus, there’s a good chance you’ll get ten different answers! Most answers will have to do with our actions.

Live good lives. Be kind. Show love. Go to church. Read the Bible. Feed the poor. Pray for others.

There are people who will tell you what you shouldn’t do as well — swear, cheat, lie, steal, hurt people, judge anyone. “Just be a good person,” they say. Then, there will be a select few who will tell you the cost of following Jesus is laying down your life so that He can live through you. And what they are suggesting is an all-out surrender to Jesus.

Let’s dive into what it means to surrender our lives to Jesus as we follow Him on this earth — to live our lives so deeply connected to Him that saying goodbye to self becomes a joy and an honor.

• Matthew 4:19–22, Matthew 16:24–25, Hebrews 11:6

More of Him, Less of Me

If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine! — Elisabeth Elliot

Surrender.

It’s a word that many see in a negative light. A surrender occurs when a person or group has been overpowered. While that’s a true definition of it, there is more to it. To surrender also means “to give up completely or agree to forego especially in favor of another.”

When we surrender to Jesus, we have the ability to agree to forego in favor of His purpose. We get to choose to be a part of His eternal game plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says that His plans are not harmful, but are good, bring hope, and a bright future.

But we often hold on to our agenda as we attempt to follow Jesus. We don’t want to surrender because we are convinced that our limited vision and wisdom exceeds God’s boundless and foolproof strategy. Our full surrender to Jesus usually boils down to one question:

How much will be required of me?

And the answer is simple. Everything.

In Mark 8:34–35, we read that if we want to be Jesus’s disciples and follow Him, we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross. The Greek word for deny in Mark, chapter 8 is aparneomai, and it means to “forget one’s self and lose sight of one’s interest.” These two verses are summed up in this way: deny self and die to self.

Surrendering to Jesus means setting aside our selfish appetites and allowing Him to live through us. It’s choosing to trust His faultless plan even when we can’t make sense of it. It’s believing that our eternal joy is more pressing than any momentary pleasure.

But there’s another question that we don’t ask, but should. What is a life surrendered to Jesus filled with? The answer is the same. Everything.

Every spiritual blessing from God is what we get when we stop striving to fulfill our human plans on earth. Yes, trouble will still find its way to our doorstep. Burdens will still leap onto our shoulders. Hardship will still stumble in front of us. But through it all, we get…

His peace that’s impenetrable. His joy that’s indescribable. His freedom that’s unexplainable. His love that’s outrageous. His mercy that’s generous. His grace that’s undeserving. His presence that’s soothing. His wisdom that’s reassuring.

All because we trusted in the plan of the God of the universe instead of our own.

So, if we want to know how to follow Jesus, we just have to ask who is leading us. Either Jesus is leading or we are. Either we choose Jesus or we choose self. It’s not complicated to decipher; it’s just not easy to accomplish. Following Jesus means more of Him, less of us.

• Jeremiah 29:11, Mark 8:34–35, John 3:30

He Wants You

Without the grace of Jesus: a hopeless end. With the grace of Jesus: an endless hope. — Rick Warren

What does God really want from us? Does He want our religious activities like attending church or doing a Bible study? Does He want us to refrain from watching or doing bad things? Doing good things and refraining from doing bad things is not the goal of following Jesus. Loving Him is. That’s what He wants. He wants you.

God wants our hearts and entire devotion. And then guess what will happen? We will do things like attend church and study the Bible because we want to know Him more. We will consider what we watch and say because we want to be more like Him. We will be kind and generous because we want to do what He’s called us to do. Our spiritual activities should not come first, nor should they be obligatory. They follow our heart’s devotion.

When we say yes to Jesus and receive His salvation, we die to self. But, the next day we will have to die again. And the next day and the next. The battle with our selfish desires occurs from the moment we wake up until the moment we drift off to sleep. Dying to self is an everyday event. The more we follow Christ, the more we should be dying to self. Why? Because we have sought after God and learned this: His higher, better ways supersede our mediocre, average ways.

So, what happens when we mess up? Is He mad at us? Are we going to get punished? Will we miss out on Heaven? Is there a spiritual button that is pressed that sends us back to the beginning for a do over?

Hardly. One thing we have to realize is that when we fully surrender to Jesus and allow Him to live through us, we are getting full access to His grace. We cannot exhaust His grace for it covers a multitude of sin. Even when our sin quota reaches “a multitude,” we are covered.

We hope that frees your mind just a little. To know that as Christ followers, we get access to His unspeakable power, His never ending love, and yes, His limitless grace. There is no sin we can commit and no distance we can travel away from Him where He will not bridge the gap with the full force of his power, love, and grace. That’s Someone worth surrendering to and living for.

And that Someone is Jesus.

• John 10:27, 1 Peter 4:8

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We can easily fall into believing things about God that aren’t true. At times, we see things on social media or the news that make us question Him. So, what is true about God? Does He know what He’s doing? Is He really loving and kind, even when things don’t seem to be going well?

God Is Good

Good is a word we use to describe how our day is, how we’re feeling, or how a particular meal tasted. Yet, it’s also a word that we use to describe our mighty, majestic, and miraculous God. Seems odd, doesn’t it? To use a word to describe God that we’d also use to describe how we felt about our lunch.

We can see evidence of God’s goodness everywhere, in every day, and in every situation. Even when we’re not aware of His goodness, He’s still good. While God does do good things, His goodness is more than just what He does. It’s who He is.

Psalm 25:8 NLT says,“The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray.” The Hebrew word for good in this verse is towb, and it means “good, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, and valuable in estimation.” God is all of those descriptions!

When we get that promotion at work, we yell, “God is good!” When our lives are problem-free, we say, “God is good!” When someone has been healed, we shout, “God is good!” But, what about when times are troubling? Or when challenges come our way? Or when life just feels hard?

When our loved one passes away…

When we are furloughed from our job…

When the cancer report says “malignant”…

When our spouse betrays us…

When our child continues to rebel…

Is God still good in those situations? Are His ways still excellent? Is He still more valuable to us than anything?

The truth is that God’s goodness doesn’t leave when our circumstances change. He’s always the same. Not only that but God is truly good all of the time. He can’t not be good. It’s who He is. He’s the definition of good.

When something good happens, God is good. And when something bad happens, He is good. As hard as it can be to say that, it’s true. Even if and especially when…God is still good.

It’s much like the sun on a cloudy day. We say we can’t see it because it’s hidden behind clouds. But it’s still there. The same is true for the hurts and disappointments in our lives. They can cloud us from seeing God’s goodness, but rest assured, it’s always there because it’s who He is.

It’s usually in our disappointments and difficulties when we call into question the goodness of God. But turning from God in the midst of our pain removes the only truly good thing from our sad equation — God. So when we’re tempted to doubt and allow our current scenario to dictate what we believe, let’s dive into God’s Word to remind ourselves of this truth.

He’s a good God.

• 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 34:8

God Loves to Forgive

Webster defines the word grace as unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. The word unmerited is key here, because it means undeserved. So, in the Christian faith, we’d say that grace is something we’ve been given that we don’t deserve. And one of the most amazing things we’ve been given by God’s grace is His forgiveness.

In Luke 15, Jesus told a parable about an ungrateful son who demanded his portion of his father’s estate. The father granted the request, and within a short time the son left with everything he received. Living frivolously and recklessly, he squandered it all away and eventually decided to go back home. Much to his surprise, the father was watching for his son, ran toward him, and met him with a grace-filled, unexpected welcome. This story is one we love to read because it’s a story of love toward the undeserved. It’s how God feels towards us.

But we also find ourselves navigating the disconnect we feel when this son returns home and is met with a celebration. There were no “I told you so” comments or lectures on what the father will do if this happens again. There was just immense love, stupendous grace, and overwhelming forgiveness lavished upon a very unworthy son. It’s beautifully uncomfortable, isn’t it?

That’s how God’s forgiveness works in the economy of the Kingdom of Heaven. God forgives us freely because of Jesus’ perfect act of selflessness on the cross. We receive forgiveness because He gave. Our good works don’t earn us anything; Jesus’ perfect work does.

We want forgiveness but honestly don’t know how to accept it. We know it’s a gift but we want to do something to earn just a little bit of it. Because receiving a gift that we not only never earned but can never do enough to pay back is more than our finite minds can grasp. Thankfully, God’s forgiveness is for everyone who calls on Him. Everyone.

Because God is a forgiving God, then it only makes sense for us to be conduits of that same forgiveness toward others. But forgiving others will cost us something. It will be hard. It will take effort. It will go against what we want. Our sin nature desires revenge. Not only that, but we think there is some kind of “sin system” where some sins are not as bad while others are extremely bad. All sin is bad. But not all consequences of sin are equal. Regardless of the intensity of the consequence, God hates all sin.

But praise God, He does not hate us! He’s waiting for us, looking off into the distance for us to come back home. He’s ready to run to us and celebrate and overwhelm us with His grace, acceptance, and forgiveness.

• Luke 15:11–32, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 3:13, 1 John 1:9

God Is Love

We’ve all heard that God loves us. Not only does God love us, but He is love. Our God is synonymous with love. Not the kind of love that we attribute to earthly possessions or temporary feelings, but the kind of love that is beyond us. This love is perfect because God is love. Not only is He love but He loves! The only reason we can ever truly love someone is because God loved us first.

From the beginning of mankind, God has loved His people. But in the Old Testament, there was a huge gap between our perfect God and sinful people. God’s wrathful actions often dealt with that sin, and because we know our God is a loving God, it’s usually something that our limited minds don’t get. If God is love, then why did He seem so mean? The truth is that sin had to be paid for. That’s why God sent Jesus to die once and for all to make people right with God.

Let’s talk about two aspects of this trait of God: His love and how He loves us.

The Love of God

God’s love is undeniable because of His miraculous works. We see evidence of His love every single day when a child is born, when the sun rises, and when we choose to be kind to others. God’s love came first. God’s love is undaunted when we mess things up. He’s not surprised or let down when we fail. God’s love is unrivaled above all else. Nothing compares to it. No words can adequately express it. No mind can fully comprehend it. But that doesn’t mean we can’t accept it and live in it.

God’s Love For Us

God’s love for us isn’t dependent on us loving Him back. According to 1 John 4:9–10, God showed His love for us by sending Jesus to the world as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. The apostle Paul told us in Romans 6:23 that Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners.” God doesn’t need us to get right with Him before we come to Him. The way we get right with Him is to simply come to Him.

He loves us that much.

• Romans 6:23, 1 John 4:7–21

God’s Heart For All People

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NASB

The verse above is the essence of the Gospel. Simply stated, the Gospel means good news, and it’s God’s plan to save us — sinful human beings — from being eternally separated from Him. Before we can truly appreciate the Good News, we need to know why we need it.

God is perfect. He doesn’t condone sin or imperfection. And since we’re sinful, imperfect humans, He can’t be in relationship with us. Instead of expecting us to be perfect so that we can know Him, He sent Jesus to earth to make things right with us because He knew we couldn’t do it on our own. That’s why it’s called the Good News! Here are a few important things to remember about the gospel of Jesus Christ:

God Loves Everyone

Notice that John 3:16 didn’t say God loved some of the people in the world. It says He loves the world and that means the inhabitants of it. God’s heart is for all people. The Gospel is for everyone.

God Wants Everyone

2 Peter 3:9 NASB says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” We may think God is late but He is always on time. He loves us so much that he doesn’t want anyone to die without Him.

God Sends Everyone

The last thing Jesus told His followers before He left earth to go to heaven was to go and make disciples in all nations. We don’t all have to go into other countries, but we are called to be obedient where we are with the truth we know.

If Jesus is our Savior, then let’s live with Him as our Lord. If He’s our Savior, then it means He saved us. If He’s our Lord, then it means He leads us. So, as we go through each day, let’s offer our praise to God for who He is and let’s pray that we’ll be His hands and feet on this earth. Let’s worship Him for His miraculous works and ask Him to give us eyes to see how much He loves everyone regardless of their status, actions, or belief system.

There is a lost and dying world who needs the hope we’ve been given. They need the joy we have deposited into our heart as God’s kids. We have the answer to the hurts and heartaches people are enduring. Now’s the time to praise and preach.

That’s why we’re here.

• Matthew 28:18–20, John 3:16–17, 2 Peter 3:3–15

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The pressure to parent perfectly keeps a lot of us awake at night. We think we have to be the best parent, and we may find ourselves nervous that we’ll ruin our children. Thankfully, God is our Heavenly Father, and He’ll guide us as we parent on earth.

The Perfect Parent

Parenting. Everyone has experience with this because we’re all someone’s child. Some of us had good experiences with our parents, while others have endured hurt and pain. Whether we have a positive outlook on parenting or are fearful that we’ll mess it all up, the good news is that parenting and perfection don’t go together for us. The even better news is that there’s only One who parented perfectly, and He’s ready to guide us.

God is referred to in many ways in the Bible. He’s the same God, but just takes on a different role. Much like we are friends, brothers, or co-workers, God is Creator, Provider, and Father. And because of what Jesus did for us, we get to be called children of God. In fact, we are co-heirs right alongside Him!

There’s no way to list all that God does and who He is, but here are several ways God is a Father to us:

He Loves Us: God’s love for us is so great as a Father that He actually sent His son to die for the sins we’ve committed. We can thank Him for such an incredible act of love by following Him wholeheartedly, and seeking to love others well in return. (1 John 4:9–11)

He Corrects Us: Nobody enjoys discipline, because it’s painful. But if we’ll receive it, we’ll become a better version of ourselves. Often, being disciplined brings about some of the greatest breakthroughs. (Hebrews 12:7–8, 11)

He Provides for Us: Our Father in heaven promises to provide for us. He tells us that we don’t have to wonder how our needs will be provided for — He just says they will! Let’s seek His kingdom and not worry about the rest. (Matthew 6:25–34)

He Forgives Us: Sometimes, we may think that our sins are too big for God to forgive them. Maybe you’ve felt far from God, and don’t know what to do. There’s some good news: He is always faithful to forgive you when you confess your sins to Him. (Psalm 103:9–12; 1 John 1:9)

He Makes a Home for Us: God has an inheritance for us. Unlike earthly money and possessions, this heavenly inheritance will never run out. Even now, a place is being prepared for us for when Jesus returns to get us. (John 14:1–4)

Let this be a guide to us as we parent our own children. Consider these truths about our God as our Father and see where you need to grow as a parent. Is our love dependent on their actions? Do we try to be their friend and not bring correction? Do we withhold forgiveness after their tenth mistake?

We won’t get it all right, but just because we’ll parent imperfectly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to do our best. Over the next five days of this Plan, we’ll address some of the most important things we can implement into our relationships with our children in order to help them become healthy, responsible, independent adults.

• John 1:12–13, Romans 8:14–17, 1 John 3:1–2

The Value of Consequences

When we hold our child in our arms for the first time, we are in complete awe because they appear perfect. As time passes, they grow into toddlers, who turn into children, who eventually become teenagers. And it won’t take very long for us to realize that our “perfect” infant has a mind of their own. We become very aware of their sinful nature and just aren’t sure how to handle it.

When our children mess up, the most important thing we can do is to make sure they know we love them. And the next thing is to give them the gift of consequences. Few of us like them, but all of us need them. Let’s consider these things when it comes to giving consequences to our children:

The Need: Galatians 6:8 says, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction…” When our children choose poorly, the best way for our children to learn a lesson and grow in wisdom is to experience consequences. There’s such value in growing through the pain of consequences, which could deter them from more detrimental choices in their future. There’s an opportunity for us to explain what grace is by letting them off the hook. But, those instances should be rare.

The Appropriateness: The question, “Does the punishment fit the crime?” is something we have to consider when handing out consequences to our children. We don’t want to give too little or give too much. If our child tells a lie and we ground them for a month, the consequence is not only too extreme, but may not be the best option. On the other hand, if our kid starts a fight at school and we take away video games for a day, they probably won’t learn the lesson. It’s wise to choose the best consequence that will help our children not repeat the action.

The Length : When our children choose poorly, we often overreact and ground them for an extended period of time. The length of time we give a consequence to our children should depend on their age. And even with teenagers, it’s wise to keep the length rather short. We do this because all children need the opportunity to try to do it right again.

Giving consequences to our children when they’re truly remorseful is difficult. But, we have to consider their future self and not just their present self. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” We can’t just parent for the convenience of the moment but must stay strong by training them to be respectful, responsible, and independent adults. When we avoid giving consequences, we’re crippling their success as adults.

• Romans 5:12, Galatians 6:7–9, 1 John 1:8

Relationship First

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means every single one of us, including our children, will make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes will have severe consequences, and sometimes they won’t. While it’s our role as parents to provide instructions and guide our kids when they’ve failed, we must keep our relationship with them in the forefront of our thoughts. Consider these things as you learn how to place the relationship first:

Don’t Forget: It’s rather difficult to move past the mistakes and sinful choices of our kids. We can get so discouraged about their sinful actions that we completely forget: we were once kids, too. Remember those moments of waiting for mom or dad to get home? Let’s do our best to be empathetic when it comes to our children. Let’s forgive them just like Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Most of the time, they’re not trying to mess up. They’re just dealing with a condition that we all deal with — humanity.

Let the Vision Guide: Most families set rules in place to keep kids safe and help them with life choices. Some rules are meant to stay because they are valuable. Others might have a place for a season. But sometimes, hard and fast rules create rebellion. It’s in these times that we have to remember the point of the rule and ask ourselves, “Is this even necessary anymore?” It’s hard for parents to “ease up” on their decisions because either their pride has gotten in the way or they’re fearful that the children will see them as too accommodating. But, we must push past those things and do what’s in the best interest of the future relationship with our children.

It’s Not About You: As hard as this aspect of parenting is, it’s vital that we grasp it. When our children fail, it’s not about us. It’s a challenge for parents to not take their children’s actions personally. We feel in some way that our kids are trying to mess up our lives. They aren’t. As mentioned above, they’re just trying to deal with their humanity problem. They don’t need guilt trips from us. They just need parents who understand that they are trying to figure out how to live it in a world that neither caters to them or even cares about them.

We have to remember what it was like to be a child. Just like we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” in order to receive mercy and grace when we need it, let’s be the kind of parent who encourages our children to do the same (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). Our kids are trying to grow up and part of that is making mistakes. When our kids are down, let’s remember that the relationship with them is always the most critical consideration.

• Romans 3:23, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 4:16

Study Your Children

Most of us have been educated in our lives. Maybe we received a high school diploma or graduated with a college degree, even a master’s or doctorate. Or perhaps our studies in life have been “on the job” training that helped us in our current career. When we pursue something to gain educational information, it makes us very knowledgeable in a field.

What if we took that same drive to learn and implemented it into our parenting? What if we chose to study our children so that we could “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord”? (Ephesians 6:4 NIV) We’d learn what fuels them, what breaks their heart, how they’re motivated, and what makes them feel loved. It’s a worthwhile effort, regardless of how old our children are. Here are some suggestions to help you do just that.

Discover Their Personality Type: There are so many ways to learn how people are wired. From books and assessments that measure a personality to those that indicate strengths. Is your child an extravert? Do they enjoy plans? Do they get their feelings hurt easily? These kinds of things aren’t meant to label our children, but to help us figure out how they respond to life and relationships. Let’s not allow any tool to define our children, but to help us get to know them better.

Discover Their Spiritual Gifts: Every single Christ follower has at least one spiritual gift. These are given to us by the Holy Spirit as He decides. Yes, that even means your infant or your five-year old. Maybe you’ve started to see traits in your child that make you recognize certain gifts. These gifts are determined by God, but we can play a part in seeing the development of them in our children so that they can “use whatever gift we have received to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV).

Discover Their Love Language: Author Gary Chapman wrote a book called The Five Love Languages. In it, Chapman shares that our relationships will grow stronger when we learn how to give and receive love. He followed this up with The Five Love Languages of Children, which helps parents learn to speak their child’s love language. Both books offer such great wisdom and insight, and will help us uncover the best way to love our children in a way that they’ll hear and experience our love.

Becoming a student of your child will not perfect your parenting, but you’ll be farther along in your relationship and understanding of them if you hadn’t. So, choose today to invest in your personal knowledge of your children by spending time with them, studying them, and before you know it, you’ll be Dr. Mom and Dr. Dad.

• Ephesians 6:4, Philippians 2:3–4, 1 Peter 4:10–11

Character

Having character is more than what people think we are. It’s actually who we are, especially when no one is around. We all have character. The question is, what kind do we have? Are we honest and kind or selfish and rude? To have the kind of character that will bring success in our lives will take effort.

The thing about good character is that we know when it’s present in someone’s life and when it’s not. As parents, we want to see our children grow in character and exhibit “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” which is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23 NIV). So, how do we build character in our children? Show and tell.

Show: If we want to see a strong, resilient character in our kids, we must demonstrate it. As the adage goes, “More is caught than taught.” Our children are watching our every move, and if we think we are hiding things from them, we must think again. If we want them to live honest lives or show kindness to everyone, then we must live that way. If our children are going to be the kind of people who can apologize for their mistakes, then we must be those people, too. Even if it means we are apologizing to them and asking for their forgiveness when we fail them.

Tell: In addition to showing our children good character, we must teach them as well. We are given such a short amount of time to train them before they begin to live their own lives. So, let’s make every moment count. We must teach them how to work hard and earn things in their lives. They will make mistakes and fail, so we guide them in getting back up and trying again. When they succeed in an activity, we explain to them that they should receive prizes and compliments with gratitude, not arrogance.

We’re given a huge responsibility by God to train our children on this earth. A huge part of that is who they become. In this, we have to decide if it’s more important for our kids to succeed in school, sports, and popularity, or for good character to be built. We can trust that “suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3–4 NIV). While we can’t make our kids become someone, we can most certainly do our part by investing in them and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

• Romans 5:3–5, Galatians 5:22–23

Letting Go

We can find hope and inspiration from parents who’ve gone before us. We receive hope and encouragement when the road gets difficult. And when we feel like we can’t go on, our Heavenly Father is saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). So, when we’re at our weakest is when His power works best.

One of the more challenging seasons of parenting is when our kids become preteens and continue into their teenage years. It’s in this season that we can see a change in attitude and feel them pulling away from us. But, they’re doing exactly what has to happen for them to become healthy, responsible, independent adults. So, what’s one thing we can do? Let them.

Let them choose and build this muscle of making choices and experiencing consequences. If your 10-year old wants to spend his allowance on candy and has no money left for the week, let him. It won’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but it’ll teach him a lesson in the process.

Let them ask questions about their faith. All kids have them. They ask because they want answers. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” And also don’t be afraid to try and find out. But mostly, just listen. Remember, we’re also trying to become students of our children and what makes them tick.

Let them fail and learn the lessons. This will be one of the more challenging things for you as a parent. You have life experience and see ahead what consequences could come from their choices. But, how will they learn if you constantly control the outcome? Maybe their summer job requires them to be at work at 6:00am. A few days of oversleeping and dealing with the consequences will help them learn a valuable lesson.

Letting go doesn’t mean you give up, nor does it mean you don’t intervene. There’s a time for that, even in the lives of our adult children. Before you do, ask yourself this question, “Is the potential outcome for this something that would be hard to recover from?” If the answer is no, then keep your opinions to yourself. If the answer is yes, then decline your child’s request or respectfully say something to your adult children.

The bottom line in all of this is that from the moment we become parents, we have to begin the process of letting go. And it is a process. It goes against everything in us because we want to protect and shield them from struggle. But, our motto as parents should be, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV). It’s often the struggle that brings about an amazing product. Both in us, and in our kids.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, Philippians 4:13

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We’ve all had questions about God — some have been answered and some haven’t. The truth we learn from the Bible will help us find answers to many of our questions. For the answers we just don’t get or the questions that are left unanswered, let’s let them drive us to pursue God more.

The Bible’s Validity

It’s fairly safe to say that at some point in everyone’s life they’ll have questions about God. It could be that they are questioning God about something that happened, or if He exists. Not only do people question God, a lot of people question Christians about God, which is why we should know what we believe and why.

But, before we dive into the questions, we have to know what the source is for the truth we’re seeking. Is it a really smart person who lived hundreds of years ago, a particular belief system that has grown popular, or something that has emerged in the last century? For the follower of Jesus, our source for truth is the Bible.

The Bible, commonly referred to as God’s Word or Scripture, is our guidebook as and is a key component to help us walk closer with Jesus. While it doesn’t answer all of our questions, it does provide direction about who God is, how to be in relationship with others, how to live with purpose, and how to receive eternal life. The truth we find in God’s Word will help us navigate the questions that continue to plague many. But first, let’s talk about what it is.

The Bible is made up of…

• …66 different books…
• …written over a 1,500 year span…
• …in three languages…
• …by over 40 different writers…
• …living on three different continents…
• …all inspired by God.

Although these books were written independently, they speak of one theme throughout both the Old and New Testaments: the redemption of mankind through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

There are over 300 Old Testament prophecies that predict the life and work of Jesus and every one of them was fulfilled in his life. With all of these differences in how and when the Bible was written, there is no way that most of these prophecies could have just been predicted by the authors nor could they have conspired with each other.

• Isaiah 40:8, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Hebrews 4:12

If God is good and loving, why does so much evil exist in the world?

This is an age-old question that has been asked for centuries, and will probably continue to be asked. The answer seems to be beyond our mental reach. No matter how much we’re told or how much we learn, we’re just not satisfied with the answers we get — especially when new crises and evils appear daily.

Genesis 1 details the Creation story of the world. God made our world perfect, including creating mankind. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and gave this instruction in Genesis 2:16–17: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave a choice to obey Him or not. When we choose to disobey God, our choices bring about evil. God didn’t create evil — it’s the result of our sinful choices.

That still doesn’t seem to answer our question. Yes, we have freedom that allows us to choose, but why did our good and loving God allow it? Didn’t He know that some things we’d choose would have evil outcomes? Didn’t He know how much pain we’d endure because of someone else’s actions toward us? Yes. Because He’s all-knowing, He did know and does know. And that makes this whole situation come full circle to where we ask the questions again: “If God is good and loving, why does so much evil exist in the world?”

Evil does exist. But maybe we see and hear about so much evil because it’s what gets our attention. Sadly, whenever we watch or read the news, most of it’s bad. And often, at the end of the newscast, we hear an uplifting, encouraging news story that really does settle us a bit, doesn’t it? We find ourselves wanting more of that kind of news.

As long as imperfect, finite humans occupy our world, there will always be evil, so we may not get an answer that satisfies us. What if we turned our focus from the evil in the world and not only looked for the good, but did our part to usher in hope and restoration as followers of Jesus? What if we spent less time asking questions about why evil occurs and more time offering hope and help to those who are struggling in their own pain? What if instead of trying to understand an ungraspable thing like evil, we did our part to make a difference in people’s lives by serving them and sharing Jesus with them?

Looking for the good and seeking to do good in our world and to the people who reside in it is the part we’re called to play. What we’re looking for, we’ll find. So, let’s look for the good.

• Genesis 2:15–17, Romans 5:12, Hebrews 12:1–3

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Probably the most common, recurring question people have about God is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” We tend to ask this question when a good person dies prematurely, or when an honest person is wrongly accused of a crime. It seems as if this question really stems from what’s fair and what’s unfair.

Bad things happen. Unfortunately, there’s never a day when something bad doesn’t happen to someone on this earth. One reason bad things happen is because there are around eight billion people currently living on earth, and each person can make their own choices. With each person comes a variety of viewpoints and belief systems that lead people to choose their own way. If the worldview isn’t a biblical one, then choices don’t line up with God’s standards and usually leads to sin. With each sin, comes consequences that can bring about so much destruction on our earth and in our lives.

Since we tend to only question God when bad things happen to good people, let’s consider the alternative. If God is the only good One in the world, not us, then let’s ask, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Because we can all count the good things in our lives that are from God’s hand. Sure, we have difficult seasons in life, but we also have countless blessings. What if we recognized that every good thing in our life is a gift and not something we deserved? What if instead of having an entitled attitude that we should receive what we ask God for, as if He’s our own personal genie, but chose to walk in gratitude and recognize that God gives us far more blessings than He doesn’t?

Ultimately, God is sovereign, and He has a plan. We’re not on this earth for God to fulfill our plan, but for us to fulfill His. But, we confuse this when pain riddles our lives because we aren’t getting our desires. While God is always with us, near us, and for us, He didn’t create the world and His plan with just us in mind. For God so loved…the world. His plans and purposes go far beyond us.

There are going to be more what ifs and questions as you go through life than you’ll find answers for. But, as you press through one question to the next, you may not have all the answers, but you’ll know our great God more.

• Romans 12:1–2, 1 Peter 3:15

Why doesn’t God answer every prayer?

Billy Graham said, “prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.” Because of that, we can come to God, our Creator, at any time in our day and know He’ll meet us right where we are. Isn’t it amazing that the God of the universe hears us?

But we don’t always grasp everything about prayer and often say, “God didn’t answer my prayer.” The truth is that God does indeed answer every prayer we pray. Sometimes He says, “Yes,” sometimes He says, “No,” and other times He says, “Wait.” When we receive “no” or “wait” as an answer to our prayers, we assume that “He didn’t answer our prayer.” Let’s dive in a little deeper to this.

When God Says Yes

The good news is that God says yes a lot! It’s true. When we pray and ask for salvation through Jesus, He saves us. When we confess our sins, He forgives us. When we ask for wisdom, He grants it. He also says yes to so many other requests that we make — like giving us peace when we’re nervous, bringing a loved one through a surgery, or providing for our needs when we have nothing left. God desires to give us good and perfect gifts. He wants the best for us and often gives us things we desire, too!

When God Says No

When people say God didn’t answer their prayer, what really happened is that God said “no.” We ask God for the job, the spouse, or the child, and He doesn’t grant it. That’s hard. Because we don’t understand why God wouldn’t say “yes” to a great job, an amazing spouse, or a precious child. It just doesn’t make sense, and quite frankly, it hurts. But His “no” often leads to a better option for us.

When God Says Wait

Hearing “wait” can sometimes be harder than hearing a “no.” And often we don’t really hear God audibly say “wait,” we just end up waiting and assume He’s delayed His response. Waiting isn’t fun, and we certainly don’t like it when we’re waiting for God to grant our petition. What we need to understand is that timing is everything, and God is never late. He knows exactly when to say “yes” to your appeal.

No matter the answer we receive to our prayer, we need to understand that every single prayer that we pray to God, He hears and answers. And as we grow in our faith and our relationship with Him grows deeper, we’ll begin to trust His “wait” and “no” answers because we know He has the best plans in the world. In addition to that, we’ll begin to ask questions that we know would line up with His truth and His will.

So, seek God above everything, allow Him to fill up your heart, mind, soul, and spirit, and ask Him to replace your desires with His best!

• Matthew 6:33, Romans 10:9–10, James 1:5, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 5:14–15

Finding Peace in the Tension

The words peace and tension feel like opposites, don’t they? It’s hard to experience peace when things are tense. As followers of Jesus, we can have peace even when things around us feel out of control, because His presence brings us peace…even when our questions don’t get answered.

Here’s a quick news flash: we’ll always have questions for God. He’s the all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present Creator of the universe. There will always be some mystery with our God. And isn’t that what we want? Do we really want to know, understand, and fully grasp Him and His ways? Don’t we want to follow a God who is bigger, smarter, wiser, and more intelligent than us or would we rather know everything He knows? The truth is that if we had all of the answers, we wouldn’t need Him.

If you think about it, questioning God shows a bit of arrogance on our part. For human beings to actually think we know what’s best or know more than the Creator of the universe seems a bit absurd. Granted, sometimes we’re just questioning Him because we’re hurting and because we thought our plan was pretty good. We desired our loved one to be healed, for disease to be eradicated, or for natural disasters to end. Those all make sense to us, so why wouldn’t they make sense to God?

There’s the tension. It’s almost palpable, isn’t it? Sometimes, it just won’t go away and we have to choose to experience the peace Jesus brings despite the fact that some of our questions will never get answered. This is the part of the Christian walk where our faith hits a crisis level. We either choose to press into God more and trust Him or we turn our backs on Him in anger and walk away from our faith. Walking away will bring a double portion of misery to us. Isn’t it better to experience God’s peace in the midst of your pain and questions than to still have questions without His peace?

Instead of questioning God, maybe we should question the world’s ways more? We’re often so quick to believe the doubts that we hear from others and even ourselves, and yet, the One who created the world is the one we question. Why can’t we question what people say or what our self-talk is instead of always questioning our God? What we listen to and believe makes us either question God or run to Him.

So, run to Him with your questions, fears, doubts, and concerns. He can handle it and as you do this, you’ll experience His peace as you simultaneously fight through your doubts and grow your trust in Him. At the end of the day, ask God to reveal Himself to you and allow His perfect peace to renew your mind in the midst of the tension of unanswered questions.

• Psalms 95:3, Psalms 96:4, Psalms 147:5, Isaiah 55:8–9, Romans 12:1–2, Ephesians 3:20, 1 John 3:20

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In uncertain times, our go-to mindset is fear. It seems to soothe us when we continually let ourselves go down fear-filled, “what-if” roads. As followers of Jesus, we can battle this. We don’t have to let fear win.

1. Test It

In difficult times, we must consider what we’re filling our minds with. It’s important to be informed, prepared, and ready to the best of our human abilities, but we can’t overload with too much negativity or information that incites fear. God is honored when we play our part, but we must allow Him to handle the rest. Nothing surprises Him.

When things go beyond our reach and we feel we’ve lost control, we often let our minds run rampant with fear-filled thoughts and what-if scenarios. Before we know it, our actions are no longer rational.

There’s good news! We have a guide to help us own our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 is a great test as to whether we should think about something. The verse tells us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Consider each word listed below.

True: One of the most important things to consider about our thoughts is, “Are they true?” We need to focus on what is authentic and real.

Noble: Because we are children of God, we’re in the highest of ranks! Our thoughts should be royal and regal. Let’s not allow ourselves to think in an unkind or repulsive manner.

Right: Thinking the right thoughts means allowing accuracy and appropriateness to guide us. We are called to right-living and right-thinking by God’s Word.

Pure: To be pure in heart and thought is not as difficult as it seems. It’s simply choosing to think about good, upright, and honest things.

Lovely: To think lovely thoughts means to see the beauty in life and allow our minds to think upon those things. Let’s look for the good.

Admirable: To be admired is something most people want. But do we want admirable thoughts? Thoughts that are credible and distinguished and allow us to live in such a way that is commendable.

Excellent: The best of the best is what excellent is. When our thoughts are excellent, they are superb, exceptional, and fabulous. Excellent thoughts lead us to live excellent lives.

Worthy of praise: What thoughts are worthy of praise? Thoughts about God. His ways, His plans, and His creation, to name a few. It’s safe to say that when our thoughts are on Him, that’s a good thing.

So, what happens when we test our thoughts with these guides and our circumstances are still bleak? That’s where faith enters. We weren’t created to know the future — that’s God’s job. He sees and knows the future because He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and He’s everywhere all the time. And guess what? He sees you. He’s with you. He’s covering you. Even when you can’t sense it, trust that He is by standing on His truth.

Can we adjust 100% of our thoughts? Probably not. But, in the world of our thoughts, some improvement is better than none. We can begin to win this mental war by owning one thought at a time.

• Philippians 4:8, Hebrews 11:1

2. Look Up

It’s such a challenge when we find ourselves in a place where we’re bombarded with fear. We want to overcome it, yet we have a hard time doing so. Often, the issue is where we fix our sights. Sadly, we often gaze at our problems and merely glance at God. We need to reverse that. Let’s gaze at our good, mighty, powerful God and simply glance at our problems. Life works better that way.

Hebrews 12 is a great reminder for us. Are we spending our energy focused on the trials and struggles in front of us, or are we focused on the God who is over all of them? Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “keep our eyes on Jesus.” Why? Because He authored our faith and continues to perfect it.

So, to find out where your thoughts are directed, ask yourself these questions:

Is my focus more on God or on daily circumstances?

Do I tend to worry about my struggles instead of trusting in God?

Am I entertaining fear by imagining what-if situations?

Because we’re humans, we’ll still battle with what our flesh desires. And not just that, but our flesh will always drift toward what feels good and what’s easier. It’s easier to let our minds roam toward the unpredictable and uncertainty that life brings. But we can change that.

We need to look up towards Jesus. When we do this, our minds are less likely to stay fixed on the problems below. We won’t grow as weary, which in turn will give us the strength to stay the course. Let’s not give up.

Wherever you are, simply lift your chin up a few inches and allow your eyes to follow. Voice a simple prayer telling God that you’re choosing to trust Him. Repeat this whenever you start to feel flooded with fear.

• Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:1–3

3. Submit First

Submitting to the Lord is our first line of defense when fear rears its ugly head. And guess who loves it when we live in fear? Our spiritual enemy. Fear is his playground.

Thankfully, we have a plan of attack. God has given us a spiritual dress code in Ephesians 6:10–18. We must be fully equipped with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit and a prayerful heart. Once we’re appropriately clothed, we can heed the words of James, the half-brother of Jesus:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NIV

Before we start rebuking or resisting the devil, we must ask ourselves if we’ve fully surrendered and submitted to God. Submitting to God means fully abandoning our lives to Him. With our spiritual armor fully in place and prayer in our hearts, we’re yielding to the One who has the ultimate authority. We’re given the strength to resist the devil when we surrender our entire lives to God. And then guess what happens? The devil flees.

Yet, what we often try to do instead is first resist the devil or rebuke him, when we have yet to really submit to God. Resisting the devil is hard when we haven’t submitted our will, our ways, and our wants to God. Submitting to God is not only the first step, but our submission to God is actually us resisting Satan at the same time.

We have the tools at hand. Let’s take steps toward fully giving our lives to our good God, for when we do, the devil has no power over us.

• Ephesians 6:10–18, James 4:7

4. Declare It

Before troubling times come our way, it’s wise to be prepared for our course of action. We can trust God fully even when we don’t see the next step. The best way to come against fear is to speak God’s Word. So, let’s take the following verses and turn them into declarations.

Romans 12:2: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

Prayer: God, help me not copy the behavior of this world, but to be transformed by Your Holy Spirit renewing my mind. Then, I’ll be able to know Your good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Philippians 4:8: Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. (CSB)

Prayer: God, with Your help, I will think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)

Prayer: God, with Your power, I demolish anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and I take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.

Colossians 3:2: Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (ESV)

Prayer: God, I will set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.

2 Timothy 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. (AMP)

Prayer: God, You didn’t give me a spirit of timidity, cowardice, or fear but one of power, love, sound judgment, and personal discipline.

1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (NIV)

Prayer: God, I cast all of my anxiety upon You because You care for me.

Don’t just make these your prayers once — do it throughout the day. Fear doesn’t like to loosen its grip so we have to go into battle for our freedom. Even if you don’t feel like praying these declarations, pray them anyway. You may not feel anything after praying one time. That’s okay. Pray again. And again. And again. We don’t pray only when we feel like it. We just pray.

Consider writing these prayers down or taking a picture of them for your device. That way, they’ll be with you throughout the day.

• Psalms 119:105, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:2, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7

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Overcoming difficult seasons can feel impossible when you’re going through them. But thankfully, God is able to do more than what we ask or imagine.

The Strength to Endure

Have you ever found yourself in a hard season that doesn’t seem to end? Maybe you’ve been stripped of comforts you’d grown accustomed to, or perhaps you’ve battled feelings of disappointment or defeat. Whatever you’ve faced, you’re not alone in your experience.

Job: lost his wealth, resources, authority, family, health, and friendships.

The prophet Jeremiah: watched his country fall apart and his friends get dragged away into exile.

The prophet Isaiah: was allegedly sawn in half for prophesying. He died without seeing the Savior he talked about.

The twelve apostles: endured assassination attempts, persecution, starvation, imprisonment, isolation, disease, and death. They all died anticipating Christ’s return.

Scripture is filled with accounts of people who endured immense pain, suffering, hardship, and loss. But these people persevered because they knew that nothing — not even death — could exclude them from God’s eternal promises.

Because our world is broken, bad things happen. When we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control, disappointment is natural and grief is necessary.

But even moments of extreme grief, pain, hurt, and disappointment Jesus can turn into amazing displays of His goodness and grace.

• Isaiah 40:27–31, Hebrews 11:1–3,Hebrews 11:23–40

Enduring Trials

Abraham was used to waiting. He waited 25 years for God to give him his son, Isaac. And, he spent most of his life wandering in foreign lands, trusting that God would show him where to go next. Imagine what Abraham must have been thinking when one day God asks him to kill the son he’d waited years for.

No one would have blamed Abraham if he said “no” or became bitter, defensive, angry, or fearful. But instead, he chooses to live within the tension of trusting that God will intervene, and to worship God even if He doesn’t. Abraham even tells Isaac that “God will provide for himself a lamb” — as he prepares to sacrifice him.

In the end, God does spare Isaac’s life, and He reveals the reason for His odd request: He never wanted Isaac’s death — He wanted Abraham’s complete obedience.

Sacrifices matter to God when they’re born out of obedience because true obedience is a faith-filled act of sacrificial love.

Trials test the extent of our obedience by revealing what our faith is founded in. If we say we love God but we allow our circumstances to dictate our responses to tough situations, then we have more faith in our circumstances than in our God.

But, if our faith is rooted in the God who has authority over all things, then we, like Abraham, can walk into the unknown embracing the tension of believing God can restore all things — and worshiping Him even if He doesn’t.

• Hebrews 11:17–19, Genesis 22:1–18, 1 Samuel 15:22–23

Enduring Disappointment

Joseph, the favorite son of a wealthy land-owner, had his whole life ahead of him — and he knew it. He even dreamed about what his future would look like until, one day, his brothers sold him to human traffickers. In an instant, Joseph is stripped of his family, future, position, and resources. Every plan for his life is shattered.

As a slave in Egypt, he is betrayed again and finds himself in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. But no matter what he goes through, he never stops trusting God…and God never stops showing Joseph favor and love.

After two years in prison, Joseph gets promoted to second in command of Egypt. Ultimately, he ends up rescuing thousands of people from a seven-year famine — including his brothers.

Every painful experience of Joseph’s past prepared him for a future purpose that would impact countless lives.

Maybe in some way you can relate to Joseph. Perhaps you’ve been betrayed by someone you trusted. Or, perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering why your life is filled with disappointment and hardship. Maybe your life just doesn’t look like the one you dreamed of for yourself.

Whatever you’re facing, God has a perfect record of turning broken hopes and dreams around for our good and His glory. He has never stopped working in your life. No matter what hardships you face, God will continue to show you favor and love when you continue to walk with Him. And when you walk with God, nothing you go through is wasted.

• Genesis 39:20–23, Genesis 45:1–15, Genesis 50:15–21

Enduring Setbacks

As a teenager, David was anointed as the next king of Israel. But instead of ascending the throne in a blaze of glory, he spent years running from Israel’s current king who repeatedly tried to kill him.

During this time, David laments to God: he has honest conversations about his situation while holding onto the hope that God can — and will — restore him.

David’s laments allowed him to express his grief, cry out for justice, and remember God’s faithfulness. Focusing on God’s faithfulness reminded David of God’s character, and knowing God’s character helped him hold onto hope. That’s why, even in the hardest of situations, David could say, “You [God] are my place of refuge, you are what I really want in life.” (Psalm 142:5)

What David may not have known during his years as a fugitive was that this experience was actually training him to become the leader and warrior Israel needed. The setbacks he endured strengthened his character and paved the way for his future purpose.

When you find yourself surrounded by opposition, grief can be a gift that helps you make sense of your situation. But grieving isn’t the end of your journey.

When you place your hope in Jesus, you never grieve in vain because the God who was is also the God who does. That’s why, no matter what you face, you can hold onto this hope: Jesus can turn your setbacks and sorrows into setups for your good and His glory. He can take your pain and use it for His purposes. He can make a way through your desert seasons. As you continue to draw close to Him, you just might discover that your current struggle is training you for future purposes He has for you and those around you.

• Psalms 3, Psalms 142, Hebrews 12:1–13

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All of us need forgiveness. But too often we treat forgiveness like it’s optional, when in reality, it’s a prerequisite to grow in our faith. Discover hope and truth from different biblical accounts about forgiveness as we receive it for ourselves and extend it to others.

What is forgiveness, and why is it hard?

When we’re born, we have so much to learn. We have to learn how to speak, walk, and write, among so many other things. But no one has to teach us to do the wrong thing. There’s no class we have to take to show us how to be selfish, hurt others, or sabotage relationships. We know how to disobey God and sin against Him and others from the moment we’re born.

That means that every single one of us needs the forgiveness God offers. The amazing news is that God provides a way for all of our sins — past, present, and future — to be cast away from us. All we have to do is say yes to the saving grace offered through the death of Jesus on the cross. God’s love for us is extravagant, and He loves to lavish His love upon us. One way He does it is by extending forgiveness to us. It’s incredibly simple, but not always easy to grasp.

So, what is forgiveness?

It’s a choice. It’s releasing feelings of resentment. It surrenders our desire for retaliation.

Why is it so hard to forgive?

We feel it means no justice for our pain. We can’t stop the hurt, which then invades our thoughts. We think other people’s sin is worse than ours.

What happens when we are forgiven?

We receive an undeserving gift. We get to offer this gift to another. We get to start over.

What happens when we forgive others? We’re spared an embittered heart. We’re given peace of mind. We’re obeying God.

One final thing to know about forgiveness is what it isn’t. When someone wounds us, forgiving them doesn’t mean they aren’t held accountable nor does it mean we ignore what they did. It doesn’t mean we pretend the hurt never happened, that we condone what they did, or think we can actually forget it. Forgiveness simply means we’re letting it go, moving forward, and not allowing it to dictate our lives.

When we allow unforgiveness to take root in our hearts and grow into a bitter product, we’ll never fully experience freedom in our hearts. In order to grow and mature in our faith, we need to extend forgiveness to others.

• Isaiah 55:8–9, John 3:16–17, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:31–32, 1 John 1:9

Joseph

The story of Joseph comes from Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament. He’s the son of Jacob, whom God eventually renamed Israel. Joseph’s life is one filled with hardship, because his brothers sold him into slavery at age 17.

Shortly after Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was sold to the captain of the guard named Potiphar. Genesis 39 tells us that “the Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did”, and that included serving under Potiphar. Joseph eventually became the personal attendant to Potiphar and was in charge of everything in his home.

While most things seemed to be going well in Potiphar’s house, Potiphar’s wife stirred up trouble. She made continual sexual advances at Joseph, but he remained a man of integrity. In fact, Genesis 39:10 says that “she kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her.” Unfortunately, Joseph was thrown into prison where he would spend the next decade being held captive for something he didn’t do.

Heartache and hardship were both prevalent in Joseph’s young life, and yet, he didn’t stop working hard or being a man of integrity. While those traits are to be applauded, the most impressive lesson we can learn from Joseph’s life was his ability to forgive his brothers. They betrayed him so deeply, yet he chose to forgive them and see the bigger picture.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” When Joseph was 17 and sold into slavery, he didn’t know how God was working out all of the details of his future. Joseph could’ve been bitter and angry, but instead, he worked hard no matter where he was and what his circumstances held. As time went by, Joseph understood why these events occurred in his life.

We’ve all been through things in our lives that were difficult. Some of them were caused by someone else, and some of them we brought upon ourselves. Regardless of how we find ourselves in unwanted situations, God can certainly use them to benefit others.

Perhaps someone betrayed you so deeply that you don’t think you can ever trust again. There could have been a loss in your life that caused your hope to evaporate. Those aren’t enjoyable experiences, but how we walk and heal through them could be the key to unlocking not just our own freedom, but also someone else’s.

Is there an area where you’re harboring bitterness and need to forgive someone for how they hurt you? Ask God to reveal it to you. In time, He’ll show you how He can redeem your pain to benefit someone else.

• Genesis 37:18–28, Genesis 39, Genesis 40:1–4, Genesis 41:14–32, Genesis 41:39–46, Genesis 42:5–7, Genesis 45:1–8, Genesis 50:19–21, 2 Corinthians 1:3–4

The Unforgiving Debtor

One of the most profound examples of forgiveness in the Bible is when Jesus told about a king who wanted to settle his debts. One man owed the king a lot of money and couldn’t repay him, so he fell facedown and begged for mercy. The king had pity on him and mercifully forgave the debt.

After reading that, we’d assume that the forgiven man would be overwhelmed with gratitude, right? The amount he was forgiven was a debt he’d never be able to repay. And not only that, his family wasn’t harmed. Sadly, we see in the very next verse that he did not extend this same mercy to a man who owed him a tiny fraction of what he owed the king. He even had the man arrested and imprisoned until he could pay back the debt.

Something changed in this man’s heart from the time he was on his knees begging the king to have mercy on him for his debt until he got up and saw the man who owed him a much smaller amount. What was it?

One of the greatest components of forgiveness is employing empathy. When we show empathy toward another, we’re placing ourselves in their situation and showing compassion and understanding. The man forgiven the great debt by the king didn’t choose to show empathy toward the man who actually owed him very little.

If we’re all honest, we probably see ourselves in this story. How often have we chosen not to forgive someone for something they’ve done to hurt us yet we happily receive the forgiveness that God offers us? We’ve all sinned. Profusely. And every single last sin of ours falls short of God’s perfect standard.

Often, we view our sin differently. We may consider our sins to be small compared to others’, but all sin is contrary to God’s ways. The only difference? Some sins have bigger consequences — some may be small, while others may be life-altering.

We never know the full story or background in someone’s life. We don’t always understand what experiences have hindered their lives. But, a very important part of extending forgiveness is choosing a perspective that isn’t just our own. Showing empathy requires some work on our part. Often, it’s not natural for us, but could be the very key to walking in freedom by extending forgiveness to others.

Is there someone you’re withholding forgiveness from? Someone whose sin against you wasn’t as bad as you feel it was? Does your punishment of withholding forgiveness not fit their actual “crime”? Ask God to show you who you need to forgive and offer that forgiveness.

• Matthew 18:21–35

The Woman Caught in Adultery

One day when Jesus was teaching in the Temple courts, the religious leaders and teachers brought a woman to Jesus because of her sin. They told Jesus that this woman was caught in the act of adultery. Jesus didn’t need to be reminded about the law, but they did it anyway. “In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women” (Leviticus 20:10 NIV). Then they asked Jesus what he thought about the matter.

Calmly, Jesus bent down to do something unexpected — He started writing in the dirt. Then, He said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Mark 8:7 NIV). He bent back down to continue writing in the dirt, and gradually, the accusers slipped away.

An interesting part in this story is that they were trying to trap Jesus with the question. They wanted to see if he would uphold the law or not, and yet, they didn’t uphold the law fully. If this woman was caught in the act of adultery, they neglected to bring the man she was with — because the law said that both were to be killed.

Jesus asked the woman where her accusers went, said that He wasn’t condemning her, and told her to leave her life of sin. There was no speech about “how could you have done this!” nor was there a 10-step process given to her to help her get out of the mess she was in. There was just a simple, yet powerful command voiced by a tender Savior who really did want her to “go and leave her life of sin.”

For Jesus to tell this woman that He doesn’t condemn her and then to send her on her way was a disgrace to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They abided fully by their laws, which ushered in spiritual elitism. It was all they had and relied on. If only they knew how much forgiveness from Jesus could enrich their lives.

We may be the ones who need forgiveness in any situation. Maybe we’re the ones who’ve committed an unspeakable act that we haven’t even processed. And to that we need to hear from Jesus — He doesn’t condemn us but desires that we leave our lives our sin. But we also may be the ones who need to extend forgiveness. This woman committed a sin that had death as its consequence, and yet Jesus didn’t condemn her.

As you process this story of significant forgiveness and redemption, ask God to search your heart and help you see where forgiveness either needs to be received or extended.

• Leviticus 20:10, John 8:1–11

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

The first time Jesus said, “Come, follow me” was to a man named Peter. His resume wasn’t lengthy, for he was just a simple fisherman. However, Peter would come to be one of the most, if not the most valued disciple of Jesus. He was a clear leader, almost always mentioned first when they were listed, and was a part of Jesus’s “inner circle.”

Peter was very outspoken, so much so that he declared in Matthew 26:33, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Yet, when the time came for Peter to speak up and claim his friendship with the Savior of the world, he froze. And he wasn’t just silent, he completely denied Jesus and disassociated himself from knowing or following him.

Now, that’s something that can’t be forgiven, right? To sin by lying or cheating or stealing is bad, but to deny Jesus Christ feels like something you can’t come back from. You can’t pull those words back into your mouth after they’ve disappeared into thin air. And after the rooster crowed, Peter became keenly aware at what he’d just done, and he wept profusely.

But Jesus — being fully God and fully man — knew what Peter would do before He called him to be a disciple. Jesus knew the depth of anguish Peter would feel once the deafening realization of his actions became clear to him. Jesus knew this incredible misstep in Peter’s life would be the catalyst to push him toward being a world changer and carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus knew, and yet, He still chose him. And later, He not only forgave Peter, but reinstated him.

Maybe you’ve done something in your life that you feel you can’t come back from. Something you said or did had such bleak and disheartening consequences that you have no idea how the God of the universe could ever forgive you. Well, good news — that’s why He sent Jesus.

The sin of the entire world, everyone who would ever live, was placed upon our Savior as He hung despairingly on the cross. Every awful thought, repulsive action, or hateful word that goes against the perfection of God’s standard is covered by the blood that ran down our Savior’s body. And as He took his final breath and departed from this earth, every one of those sins went with Him.

As you process through your own sin and poor choices that have not only affected your life but also the lives of others, consider Jesus. He knew we’d be steeped in our sin and even with that understanding, He still died for us.

And if the perfect Son of God can forgive us, shouldn’t we find a way to forgive others?

• Matthew 4:18–22, Matthew 26:31–35, Matthew 26:69–75, John 21:15–19

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There’s something special about Christmas that tends to bring out the best in all of us. We’re usually kinder, more generous, and spend more time with those we love. But what if it didn’t have to end in December? What if we could celebrate Christmas every day?

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

“Christmas is a season of not only rejoicing, but of reflection.” — Winston Churchill

Have you ever noticed how babies bring out the best in people?

Think about it: people talk softly, kindly, and lovingly around babies. Families gather together to see the brand new baby. Friends send gifts and meals to weary-eyed parents. Not to mention, people are always nicer to pregnant women (and rightfully so). Interestingly, that’s how the Christmas story begins: with a baby.

Isaiah 9:6–7 tells us that “unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,” and this child was Jesus. This Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace is the Savior of the world that people had been waiting for. When He came to earth, prophecies were fulfilled. This baby, born of a virgin, grew up to be a man who lived a perfect, sinless life. He died on a cross and rose from the dead, granting us the opportunity to be delivered from our sins.

That’s what Christmas is all about. However, December is usually packed full of things that demand our attention:

• Getting the perfect gifts for those on our list.
• Being unusually kind with our words and actions.
• Preparing a delectable meal for a party.
• Creating the most spectacular card to send to friends and family.
• Participating in activities because it’s tradition.

Those are all great things! However, if we’re not careful, we can allow the way we’re celebrating to replace the One we’re celebrating. We can keep our focus on Jesus while finding pleasure in God’s blessings to us. We are meant to enjoy things, not worship them.

Christmastime brings out something in most of us. The something in us that wants to be generous, kind, festive, friendly, and social. But what if we didn’t wait until Christmas to be intentional? We don’t have to wait until December…

• …to give to a non-profit.
• …to be kind and speak kindly to others.
• …to prepare a meal for close friends.
• …to send a card to a family member.
• …to create year-round traditions in our faith.

It seems like a tall order to accomplish, but it isn’t. It just takes a bit of intention. We have to mark our calendars, create the reminder, and simply follow through. Think of how it will feel when we hear the phrases, “Christmas is the season for giving” or “This is a time for family and friends” in December, and we will have been doing this for the past 11 months.

• Isaiah 9:6–7

Christmas Begins with Christ

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” — Charles M. Schulz

Exchanging and receiving gifts is one of the most popular Christmas traditions. Beginning sometime in early November, advertisements for that “perfect” gift begin.

Matthew 2 tells about the birth of Jesus. The wise men heard that Jesus was born, and they went out to look for Him. Matthew 2:10 says, “They were overjoyed” when they found Jesus, and they presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gift giving is honorable, generous, and says, “You were on my mind.” We resemble our Heavenly Father when we offer gifts to others. It’s normal and expected to give presents at Christmastime, but what if we were generous all the time? What if we gave a gift to a friend in April just because? What if we contributed to a friend or cause in July? If we made giving a regular part of our lives, we might not have to focus so much on doing it during one month of the year.

Maybe you’re thinking that you don’t have the money to buy gifts and make donations all year long. Here are a few thoughts when it comes to giving:

A Gift is a Gift
It means you were thinking of someone besides yourself. You might spend a little bit, a lot, or nothing at all! The amount isn’t the point; the thought is. So be creative in the things that you want to give to someone. And don’t wait until December.

Give Beyond a Gift
Being generous isn’t just about a physical gift that we purchase at a store. It is about offering something to bless someone else. An act of service or a thoughtful word are great ways to give.

Every Little Bit Helps
We often wait to give until the final two months of the year. But, we can change that and become good at giving during the other 11 months. So, maybe you can only give a little bit each month to that non-profit you love. Or you buy a few grocery items for a family in need. Any amount will make a difference.

Life brings us ample opportunities to give and be a blessing to someone else. Whether we are helping the single mom with her children’s clothes, donating to a non-profit, or making someone’s day with a simple gift, we get to imitate our Heavenly Father by being a gift giver.

• Matthew 2:1–11, 2 Corinthians 9:6–7

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” — Harlan Miller

At Christmas, we’re usually just a little softer than we are the rest of the year. We smile a little more, laugh a little more, and show kindness a little more. We let people come into our lane on the highway, we drop some money into a bucket outside of a store, and we say nice things to people that may tend to annoy us because, “Well, it’s Christmas.”

But, once December 25 has come and gone, we pack up the decorations and gifts and tuck them away with the Christmas spirit. You know, the Christmas spirit that led us to be a little more patient, give a little more money, and speak a little more kindly.

For many people, Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It’s easier for us to be loving and kind during the season. Because it’s such a short time in the year, we think, “I can ignore this one thing — it’s Christmas, after all.” To think that we can act this way year-round seems like an impossibility. But if we could see people through a different lens and just treat people the way we want to be treated, we could make this our reality.

Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “We judge other people by their actions but we judge ourselves by our intentions.” What if instead of assuming the worst in others, we assume the best? What if we give others the benefit of the doubt in their actions toward us. Even at Christmas, people are still imperfect and will occasionally offend us. But if we could understand that everyone’s hurting because of something and that we all need a little extra kindness extended toward us.

That woman who seemed inconsiderate and cut you off at the store? Maybe her world just fell apart because she miscarried. The kid who won’t quit acting up in his classroom disturbing others? Maybe his parents are divorcing and he doesn’t know how to handle his pain. The pastor who didn’t visit with you enough in the church lobby? Maybe his private world is paralyzing him due to a wayward daughter.

We can’t assume what people intend, and we can’t assume they’ll always live up to our expectations. Let’s offer the same grace that we want offered to us. Not just during a fun season of celebrating, but for the entire year.

• Proverbs 11:17, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

“It’s not what’s under the tree that matters; it’s who’s gathered around it.” — Anonymous

Gathering together over a meal is quite a common occurrence at Christmas. From family gatherings to office parties to team appreciation activities, there’s an array of opportunities to celebrate relationships and show love to people we’re deeply connected to. And just like the celebrations are broad, so are the types of food we partake in at the tables we are gathered around.

Too often we wait to enjoy a meal with people until there is a holiday on our calendar. We celebrate Christmas and Easter with some secondary holidays in between. Sadly, we don’t connect with people enough when we were made to do just that. There’s something special about gathering together and enjoying the relationships in our lives that God has blessed us with. The Bible is full of one-another statements that we can only accomplish with…one another.

Love one another — John 13:34

Serve one another — Galatians 5:13

Forgive one another — Ephesians 4:32

Honor one another — Romans 12:10

Pray for one another — James 5:16

In order to fulfill so much in God’s Word, we must gather with one another more often. So, why not do something every month? Why do we wait until the busiest month of the year to share a meal with people? Why don’t we make the effort to invite people over more regularly so that we won’t wonder what they’ve been up to since last Christmas?

This isn’t a suggestion to have a party each month and eat Christmas cookies all year, although you certainly can do so if that’s your preference. (We’re not judging!) No, this is a call to gather more often with friends and family. To not wait until a holiday to spend time and make memories with those you love. Celebrating our friendships with others and loving on our family members is something that encouraged us and honors God.

• Acts 2:42, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 13:16

It’s a Wonderful Life

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” — Bob Hope

A common tradition that people participate in during the final month of each year is sending out Christmas cards. The Christmas card began in the 1840s by Sir Henry Cole and was actually born out of his having too little time to respond to the correspondence that was stacking up in his house. He felt it inconsiderate not to respond to the people who wrote letters to him so he hired an artist to create the very first Christmas card for his family’s update. While some criticized him for this time-saving act, many others caught on and began sending their letters and cards out at Christmas time.

With the influx of devices and social media into our culture, many have opted out of sending an actual card and instead, send an email or create a social media post giving an update. It’s not that we shouldn’t send cards and updates out at Christmas. We should if we enjoy doing so. But, wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t need to? If we had made more of an effort to keep in better touch with close friends and family between January and October?

We are busier than we’ve ever been because our schedules are fuller than they’ve ever been. We can maybe send a text message or a direct message on a social media account, but to actually send a card in the mail? Well, that’s just absurd and ancient … right?

What if we made an effort to put an actual pen to paper and write a note to someone every month of the year? What if we decided to go a little beyond that and send two notes a month? Or, what if we took it to the next level and said, “I’m going to write 52 notes a year to 52 people.” That’s one per week. And that’s just crazy.

Or is it?

We may never know what it will mean to someone when they receive a note from us — either in their mailbox, on their desk, or slipped under the wiper on their car windshield. There’s no one way to write an encouraging note to someone. It could land on a day when they think they can’t go any further, and our words of encouragement could be just what they needed for the situation they are facing.

• Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:24–25

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him

“The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence.” — Anonymous

There are countless traditions that we incorporate into our Christmas season. We decorate our homes and businesses with all kinds of ribbons, greenery, lights, and glitter. We make the treats we’ve been longing for since last December but don’t feel justified in eating between January and November. We take trips around our towns to see Christmas displays of lights galore. We see plays at our childrens’ schools and watch programs at our churches. We are definitely not short on traditions during the month of December.

And often in the hustle and bustle of this joyous season, in enjoying these temporal activities, we forget the one thing that should be in our everyday tradition — spending time with Jesus. This is often the one relationship in our lives that we forget to invest in during the time of year that we are supposed to be celebrating Him. It’s easy to do and we all, at some point in our lives, find ourselves in this place.

But there is good news! Just because we miss one day, one week, or even one month away from spending time with Jesus doesn’t mean we can’t start again. God’s mercies are new every single day. Jump start your time with God again by doing one or more of the following:

• Start a Bible Plan.
• Read through the Psalms and Proverbs every month of the year.
• Pick a verse or short Bible passage and journal about it.
• Incorporate worship music into your day.
• Spend time praying over the people in your life.
• Listen to a sermon or podcast that builds your faith.

Doing these things isn’t about earning God’s love or making sure He’s not mad at us. It’s about connecting with the One who laid down His life for us so that we could live our lives for Him. It’s about getting the strength we need to live in a world that is not our true home. It’s about walking with Him so that we can learn and grow in our faith in order to help others along the way.

Let’s make spending time with Jesus the most important tradition that lasts all year long.

• Psalms 119:105, Lamentations 3:22–23, Matthew 6:33, Mark 1:35

Believe in the Magic of Christmas

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” — Charles Dickens

There’s something magical about this time of year. Even if people struggle because of this holiday season, they still have hope that somehow and in some way, this year will be different. But, the real magic is not in the festivities surrounding this sacred holiday, it is in living for something beyond ourselves.

Decorations will come down and ugly Christmas sweaters will be stowed away, but the warmth Christmas time brings can remain. We just have to make an effort to be the people from January through October that we find ourselves being in November and December.

The most powerful thing we can do to keep our hearts alive and thriving year round is to cultivate a heart of gratitude. St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.” When we give, we actually receive.

We don’t have to wait until the Christmas season to make a difference in someone’s life. When we open our palms up to Heaven and release the grip on the things we tend to idolize, we become a conduit that God uses to impact others. What if the blessings we receive on earth were meant to be turned around to bless others? So…

Write the note.

Help the friend.

Send the text.

Visit the sick.

Serve the Church.

Give the flowers.

Plan the dinner.

Donate the money.

Buy the gift.

Whatever method you use to bring intentionality to your day, use it. If you’re a calendar keeper, choose a day each week to incorporate the suggestions. If you’re a list person, put a reminder on certain days to prompt you. If you leave notes around your office or home, put them in places you’ll see everyday.

Every single day of our lives we get a new set of twenty-four hours to be the people that God calls us to be. The people who are kind, generous, thoughtful, social, thankful, and fully devoted to following Jesus…all year long.

• Psalms 103, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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