Alive and Active Life

The way things are lining up these days in the world, many people are concerned about peace. It’s true – we do need peace for troubled times. But – things as they are – what does that look like? So – today we are talking about Peace For Troubled Times.

For centuries, people have yearned for world peace. Wars, conquests, dictatorships, brutalities, ethnic cleansings. These have robbed earth’s citizens of peace over the centuries. This has been our sad story. People of many countries have worked hard to establish, re-establish, and secure peace between nations – and in their own homeland.

The last several decades, it has become popular to openly express the wish for world peace – from presidential candidates to contest finalists to the neighbor next door. And probably you.

How noteworthy that world peace has been God’s agenda from the beginning. World peace was already in place at the inception of all things. A lot has happened since then. We read concerning headlines from far away and from our homelands. Where is peace for troubled times now?

Enduring these troubled times has almost become “a normal day.” Still, we wonder what is going to happen. Hearts start to fear. Anxiety grows. The yearning for peace is still strong. But we can’t guarantee global outcomes. And that leaves people often feeling helpless.

Earth’s citizens also need comfort, justice, and intervention. Why? Well, to simplify – maybe oversimplify – life is filled with troubles and trials. People need help and often don’t have resources needed as they suffer. So what can be done? We often look to governing bodies to provide these resources. But even resources become scarce when there is no peace.

The question still remains – can you have personal peace in these times despite world-wide tensions? There is something available, even in troubled times.

Trusting God during global unrest and in personal hardships, activates a special provision. It’s a gift that steadies your heart – God’s peace. The world could use more of that, right?

God’s peace is a result of His grace – that wonderful universal constant. Grace makes peace possible even in a broken world. The eternal principles God put into motion in the beginning are still applicable, practical, and valuable. We’re not limited to governing bodies to provide resources. God gives personally and generously, individually and collectively – to anyone who believes Him. His system still works. God’s grace is very real.

Of course, God uses governments, organizations, and individuals. But He’s not limited by them.

One day when Jesus returns, He will make all things right. He will restore peace everywhere like it was in the beginning. But during these troubled times, we yearn for and wait for God’s peace even as we receive His grace.

Earlier, we asked – where is peace for our troubled times now? Let’s explore.

God’s grace comforts, saves, and rights the wrongs people suffer – not always in our timing or to our liking. That doesn’t negate the power of grace.

Even though God is often falsely accused, His name spoken disrespectfully, His character slandered – what’s His response? The cross. Grace. Patience. Peace. He is a very generous person.

Anyone who trusts God can receive His grace, peace, and presence despite sufferings. It’s available, but only yours if you claim it. So, I’m saying peace is a gift – just what we need for troubled times.

Why not trust God for His powerful grace – and get peace, too? Are you willing to step up and help provide comfort, justice, and intervention to others?

God loves you so much. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27)

Jesus is addressing the state of your heart. He doesn’t want your heart to be troubled. He is also addressing your enemy – fear – with a guarantee you can overcome it!

In all the tangled issues people must navigate each day, God is patient and faithful. He takes your hand, if you are willing, and walks you through confusion, injustices, and troubles. God helps you. He refreshes your soul and renews your spirit. Even if issues have not yet been made right.

Why not accept God’s peace in the middle of your difficulties? Embrace His peace now. It’s a faith choice, not a feeling. Believe He will make all things right, if not now, then one day.

God sees your troubles. He “is close to the broken-hearted and saves all those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18) God promises to pay back everyone who works against you as you stay close to Him. Plant yourself deep in God’s heart of grace by simple faith, and you will find peace. Justice comes in His timing.

God wants to come close to you, and He wants you close to Him. (Jas. 4:8)

An excellent resource about peace is The Peace Hand. The simple tool of your own hand helps you grab onto peace quickly. Ask yourself 5 questions by assigning 1 question to each of your 5 fingers. This is such a practical way to renew your peace. Let’s look briefly at these 5 questions from The Peace Hand.

This is the question you affiliate with your little finger – “Tiny Tim.”  You ask yourself some questions. Then you need to answer them honestly.

This is the question you connect with your number four finger – “Reuben Ring.” It’s important and comforting that a loving God knows and deeply cares about each individual life circumstance. Still, you must ask more questions to get answers:

Get “Toby Tall” – your tall middle finger ready for a question. Now, this question will help you define your theology a bit more. What do you really believe about God and you? More “defining questions” to reveal “defining answers” that shape your relationship with God. Here we go.

This question gets paired with your “Peter Pointer” finger. He’s a pretty main guy on your hand . . . and this is a pretty main question you must come to terms with if you will ever enjoy God’s gift of personal peace. More questions for you to answer:

Here is your “Tom Thumb” question. If you didn’t have a thumb, you’d lose your grip pretty quickly. Same for this thumb question. If you don’t have this one answered, you will lose your grip in life. Why? Because obedience must follow faith, and faith always follows Jesus if you want personal peace.

Here are a few more excellent questions you need to answer:

Material partially taken from the Bible study book – More E-pistles For An i-Generation, L. 68. Great tool covering Paul’s letters for your daily devotional time.

* The Peace Hand is adapted from: McDougall, Colin. Models for Disciple-Makers. Robbinsville: Eternal Truth Ministries, 2002

All it takes is putting your foot in the wrong place – and down you go! It could be stairs, slippery ice, low-traction pavement, carpet that catches your shoe, a wet floor, or even somebody sticking their foot out in front of you. It’s so easy to get tripped off balance. And losing your balance can mean a nasty fall. Have you had a fall recently? Do you have balanced living?

The balance thing is true for all areas of life. Relationships, managing duties, carrying out responsibilities, getting rest and relaxation, meeting financial obligations, eating right, exercise and sleep – they all need balance. Keeping it all balanced is like keeping a collection of balls in the air. Sometimes they just fall!

Personal priorities can easily get mixed up as life happens. The wear and tear of daily living is endless. Asking yourself questions helps.

These are the kinds of questions you should answer to maintain balanced living. I encourage you to pull out your device – or journal. Write questions like these. Then answer each one honestly. This kind of exercise can help you identify things. You begin to see what balls are falling. You identify the need for a stronger approach and better boundaries. Plans and progress become tangible by writing things down.

There is an ancient answer to staying balanced, but it’s pretty radical. It puts you on a path many people won’t travel. Yet, it does address the challenges of balance, priorities, focus, and wear and tear. And it works. Behavior tactics, alone, don’t work well over the long-haul. But this ancient answer does.

Staying balanced is like being centered, and it starts with having the right beginning. You need a solid anchor point that won’t shift when life does. Strong. Steady. Stable. Safe. Security for your heart and mind. Lots of great “S” words.

You need a renewal point – a pause – to regain your balance when you’re pulled off. This helps you maintain balanced living and the challenges of each day. Get back to your anchor.

This is the ancient answer. The anchor you need for balanced living happens to be a Person. This person is the eternal reference point for balance. He is also a Friend who restores balance, order, inner peace, and purpose – even as daily life threatens it all. God is your anchor and your safe place.

Here are three things you can do to stay in your Anchor:

FIRST – Choosing to anchor in Jesus is an active response you make that restores you in your very middle as you turn to Him with all your heart. This is something you can do!

SECOND – Your decision to keep Jesus as your First Love gives balance to your daily life approach, even when others have turned away from you, slandered you, ostracized you, or falsely accused. This is also something you can do!

THIRD – Staying in God’s Word is a very wise use of your time and energy. Scripture renews the balance of your inner person. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Remember that meditating on God’s Word is simply picturing practical application in your life – and committing to carry it out. This is something you can do!

SUMMARY – The secret ancient key to balance is always the Son of God. Do you choose Jesus as your anchor for balanced living? Is He your first love? Are you spending time in God’s Word daily?

God has already proven His love for you. He doesn’t need to do anything more to establish His good intentions toward you. He totally wants you to have balanced living. Whether or not you choose to have a balanced life is all about your responses back to Him

Gal. 4:9 mentions the idea that whenever you give up a balanced life and walk away from your anchor (Jesus) you will likely find yourself “turning back to those weak and miserable forces.” Interesting verse! These are things like unsupportive people, hurts, unhealthy habits and patterns, self- or other-destructive behaviors, serving slave masters, etc. These weak and miserable forces throw you off-balance. No longer do you participate in balanced living when you “turn back.” Weak and miserable forces are enemy forces. Strong, powerful, balanced forces are from God’s love. Which would you rather? Why not choose God’s love, the ancient anchor point?

Christ has set you free. But how do you stay free when you may have mis-stepped, when you are confused or unsure, or when you have little control? It’s hard to stay free when others have heaped slander or judgment on you and spread it around to others, or interfered with and changed your trajectory.  Maybe getting off balance is your own doing. Maybe it’s simply the challenge of living in a broken world. How do you regain balance and freedom?

How can you BE the person God designed you to be and regularly carry out balanced living?

This is where you start. I urge you to choose Jesus in three ways.

Once you challenge yourself to reflect on and answer these kinds of questions, you can regain your balance with a refreshed perspective. Reposition yourself in freedom and launch again.

When Christ is your First Love, your Driving Desire, and your Primary Passion to your very middle, your life settles back into balance. God’s love buffers your soul from the wear and tear of life. Jesus is your safe anchor in life storms. And then you have all those “S” words again – Strong. Steady. Stable. Safe. Security. All of them describe balanced living.

1 Pet. 3:15 urges followers of Jesus to always – in every situation – “revere Christ as Lord” in your heart. Did you catch that? Your heart is your center for balanced living. There is no other place you can attain godly balanced living except in your heart.

With a “Lord” who loves you and has unlimited power, it means you can accomplish God’s purpose for your life and live up to your created full potential. God has intentions to activate both His love and power on your behalf. All of this positive, constructive energy comes out of the idea of “Lord.”

The interesting part about this relationship with Jesus as Lord is something a “servant” wouldn’t expect. It’s called “friendship.” Friendship with God! He intends to be your friend. Will you let Him? Are you ready to be a good friend back to God? He’s offered His to you and is ready to receive your friendship in return.

(Click on the image “Lord Is Before Savior” for a powerful article with more practical action steps in living a committed life as a follower of Jesus Christ.”

Look up the word “zealous.” You’ll see words like: active, devoted, diligent, enthusiastic, eager, intense, passionate. You need to be zealous in your heart toward God – even when suffering.

Notice, those words are not feelings. They are choices. As you simply choose to be zealous back to God, your life story falls into a stable rhythm – like a good poem or song. You begin to live in harmony and rhyme. Balance becomes your footing as you anchor in God.

When you are zealous in your pursuit of God, you know where to go for help, wisdom, love, mercy, courage, forgiveness . . . everything you need for life and godliness. 2 Pet. 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” Everything you need for balanced living.

Jesus is your eternal ancient anchor. Choose to fasten yourself to Him. Keep Christ as your First Love, your Driving Desire, and your Primary Passion to your very middle! You can have all those “S” words – Strong. Steady. Stable. Safe. Secure. You can have balanced living.

Why not have a balanced life. Start with your ancient anchor point – Jesus. He loves you. You’ve been made with intentional design. Why not find it and live in it?

Visit our website for more articles and tools to help your devotional life with God. Content of this article is taken partially from More E-pistles For An i-Generation – a great Bible study with practical application for your life.

What exactly are affairs of your heart? How do you manage them? Perhaps we could rearrange the words and ask – – in your heart, what is the state of affairs going on in there?

Often, an affair is equated with some kind of unfaithfulness – like cheating on your spouse. But that’s only one type of affair. What other kinds of heart affairs exist?

I’d like to suggest there are many kinds of affairs of your heart. I migrate toward the reworded focus – how healthy is “the state of affairs” going on inside you as you live. We’ll focus on three kinds of heart affairs:

As you can see, affairs of your heart can be simple stuff, complicated issues, and serious developments. They can involve another person, a particular event, an experience, a dream or goal, a habit, a self-indulgence, etc. It may involve good things that become too important.

When you get in touch with these dynamics, you can wrap your hands around the affairs of your heart.

How long has it been since you sat down and considered just how much is going on inside your heart right now? If you could create a quiet moment – a pause – and prayerfully reflect, you’d see so much goes on all the time. Responsibilities, relationships, required responses. Daily details and big life issues that must be addressed. And that’s just starters. There’s even more.

You have things you wonder about. Questions you may have had for years – with no answers yet. Trying to make sense of things that have happened. Not sure how to interact with things said or done to you. Affairs of your heart take energy to process, and most of that happens while you are doing double-duty with daily responsibilities. You don’t get a vacation from managing affairs of your heart. You have to multi-task almost every hour you are awake.

Although not always, you are often aware – and sometimes working on – the simple stuff. Most of the time, you probably want to give your best to the many dynamics in your heart. Knowing you are not exempt from constant stresses – like voices crying for attention – means you are normal. The question remains – do you handle these heart affairs in healthy ways? Simple stuff can create a lot of anxiety.

These affairs brew in your heart under the surface. You may or may not be aware of them. They can be healthy or unhealthy. It’s the brewing part, the deep cauldron effect, the black hole that can suck your time and energy as you allow your thoughts to linger on these unidentified complications. It kind of – bubbles underneath in an annoying way.

Think of a kettle boiling on a back burner, letting off steam all day. Or a ceiling fan with a slight buzz that never stops. Sometimes you are aware, and sometimes you tune it out. But it’s still there. You eventually need to do something with these more complicated issues.

More complicated affairs of the heart often involve the unknowns of life, or situations you can’t quite wrap your arms around. It could be a health concern, lack of control in a job situation, or even a particular person that causes upheaval all the time. There are many brewing concerns that cause personal problems, stresses, and additional scenarios you have to manage.

How do you manage what you can’t define or control? (a serious health issue.) Are you tempted to “dump” managing certain issues? Perhaps you wonder if setting a boundary might help? (the black hole of a person that keeps things stirred up.)

This is the category of things that keeps you from having an intimate relationship with God and balanced relationships with others. If you want to have a healthy life, you need to spend time here. If you don’t, you will not only miss blessings – you may struggle with conditions overtaking you – like anger, or loneliness, or fear. You might even miss the purpose of your life. That seems tragic! Sometimes simple stuff and more complicated stuff pile into a heap and form super serious stuff. When you have to navigate it all, you feel inadequate. Weary. Worn out. Overloaded.

God loves you so much. He is very near you and wants to help you navigate affairs of your heart. His Word is filled with all kinds of action steps and helpful tools you can use. If you spend time in Scripture and ask God to guide, you’ll start to find these resources. And if you put them into practice, you will be well on the way to managing the affairs of your heart.

But that’s not all. God is an Extraordinary Strategist who knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. If you come near Him in your heart, by faith, He will not only come near to you. He will also share His insights, wisdom, and discernment to help you identify and manage the stuff inside you.

With God’s help, you can identify priorities and make good decisions. He will help you know how to define and develop an action plan. He will also give you courage to set boundaries. These skills are critical to being a healthy person.

I find it fascinating how Scripture looks at affairs of your heart. It’s interesting, comprehensive, and drills down to the root. Let’s look at Heb.13:4-6.

Verse 4 talks plainly about faithfulness in marriage. But this discussion is quite brief. It quickly moves on to additional affairs of your heart.

Verse 5 introduces two brand new focuses. The first is keeping your life free from the love of money. The second is being content. Then the verse jumps into a subject that feels “out of place.” Here’s what it says. “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” What? Did we miss a paragraph? Sounds like a topic change.

I believe God is drilling down into human design, saying – “I made you and love you. My original design is for us to do life together. I will always be ‘for’ you and ‘with’ you. How about you? Will you choose to be ‘for’ and ‘with’ Me? Or are the cravings of your heart (money, experiences, choices, autonomy, and pleasures) outside of Me? Do you trust Me to care for you? Look to Me for your purpose. Why not simply be the person I designed? Remember, I created the human heart. I know its affairs!”

God lovingly says what we need to hear. And God sincerely wants to help!

Continuing in this Hebrews passage, verse 6 cinches God’s love and commitment to you. It says, “The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” God says affairs of your heart always involve Him. Whatever is going on, He can help. Let’s talk about ways you can let God help.

Healthy individuals realize they need a pro-active approach to manage affairs of their heart. You need companionship – someone you can trust. The first person should always be the Lord. Then ask if He might provide a partnership of accountability with another strong follower of Jesus. Sometimes, God wants you to just come to Him.

Here are two tools to use in partnership with God – and if He provides another person. These tools nurture growth and personal responsibility as you manage affairs of your heart.

Self-accountability means you hold yourself to the character of Jesus. You examine your heart using God’s Word – and don’t wait for someone else to point something out. You go first! The Psalmist used this tool with God. “Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad.” (Ps. 139:24-TLB)

Self-reporting means taking responsibility for the content of your heart, opening it to the Lord. You don’t wait for someone to confront you. You confront yourself and bring what’s in your heart into the light. This self-exposure ends the power of affairs hidden in the dark. It’s the first step into managing affairs of your heart.

You need these 2 tools to manage all the affairs of your heart and be a healthy individual with an Alive and Active Life.

Here are some action steps to help:

Why not let the affairs of your heart bind you closer to Jesus? “Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you . . .” (Jude 21 – TLB)

When is the last time you considered God’s love for you? Do you ever feel distant from His love? Do you wish you could connect with His love in a more meaningful way? Well, God’s love for you is sincere. It’s powerful. Yes, God loves you, and that makes a huge difference in your daily living.

God is not some distant entity who is hard to connect with. His nature is not nebulous and unreachable. Although God is beyond our understanding – actually quite unfathomable – He is very present in the here and now. You can connect with Him 24/7 in personal ways. He’s here – with you – not off somewhere taking care of more pressing matters. In fact, your life details and difficulties are paramount to God.

God’s love for you is sincere – a personal thing. He desires an intimate relationship with each of His children. If you have trusted Jesus for salvation and forgiveness of sin, you are His child. Do you know Him as your tender Father? Jesus called Father “Abba.” That’s an Aramaic word for father, but more like “daddy.” It has the flavor of personal intimacy, affection, no fear, safety, contentment, and joy.

A word about God’s kids. Even though all God’s children are part of His family, His sincere love is not so much the “group thing.” Of course, He loves His whole family. But He loves each individual passionately. I suppose you could even use the word “fiercely.” He has eager, intense love for each individual. For you!

I think of the word, fierce, when I imagine running interference or providing protection for my kids. Sleeves rolled up, geared-up, brass knuckles on, serious scary face toward the threat, and standing in the gap. Then you say something like Gandalf said in The Lord Of The Rings. “You . . . SHALL NOT . . . pass!!!”  Your Father loves you fiercely.

Scripture overflows with promises of God wanting to protect and provide.

To say God’s love is mystic makes it kind of obscure and other-world. But that’s not what Scripture teaches. God’s love is extremely tangible. It’s so real it overpowers everything physical. The mystery of God’s love was manifested in Jesus. It’s as if God wanted to get past all the esoteric and illusion of love – and just make it as plain as the nose on your face! So, to make His love connectible in daily life, He became a man. Now, that’s mystery!

Col. 2:2 says the mystery of God is Jesus Christ. It also says God wants His children to know this mystery, personally. Further, it says God desires you to have “the full riches of complete understanding” to know His love. This, too, is a mystery! God wants you to know Him. He wants to be known.

As I ponder God’s love for people, individuals around the globe and through the centuries, I’m simply struck by the mystery of God’s love. Yet, it’s so profoundly real – more reliable than the physical world. There is no room for mysticism in true love. Only mystery!

So far, we’ve described God’s love for you as sincere and very real. It’s personal, full of intimacy, affection, and closeness. There is no fear, but rather safety, contentment, and joy. We’ve also seen His love is fierce with protection – so fierce, it drove Jesus to the cross to win a battle over your enemy.

God doesn’t hide His love for you. He has gone to extremes to make His love known and easy to connect with. But He also knows love is a two-way street. Relationship happens when both parties contribute. His love for you will never stop or change. Still, you need to open up to receive His love. Then the circle of love and relationship with Him is completed – when you give your love back to God. He receives it with delight. But whether you ever love Him back or not, He will never stop loving you.

There are seven exciting things about God’s love. These points are filled with power and fresh hope. They show God’s love for you is sincere. As you consider them, ask yourself questions. Have you tapped into these resources in your trials and challenges? If not, why not?

God loves you so very much. His love is poured out on you. It’s like a shield as it forms a buffer that, if removed, would leave you exposed, vulnerable, and deeply wounded. You don’t know that reality because God has never removed His love. But if He ever did, you wouldn’t believe the awful reality! (Perhaps that is what hell is.) God’s love pours over this world and every person alive. It covers every issue in your life and trickles down into the cracks and crevices of all that is unfinished and imperfect. Jesus is your covering.

Jesus knows how hard life is. He faced every kind of temptation and trial you face – without sin. That elevates Him to the highest place. It lifts you up also – because this up-close investment of His life in the human condition proves Jesus wants to share your life in every way. It proves God’s love for you is sincere. The incredible bonus – He also wants you to share in His life in every way. Jesus knows from the ground level up how hard your life is. Living “without sin” enabled Him to take your place and lift away the consequences of sin – to spare you from punishment. Jesus is your sacrifice.

The fact that Jesus carried His own blood through the heavens to offer on your behalf on the altar in the real tabernacle (as only the great High Priest could) further demonstrates His love for you. He reverently entered God’s holy place – and straight into the Holy of Holies. Upon entering, He boldly walked to the altar, and presented His own life blood to God as the atonement for your sins – for all sins of all people in all centuries of time. Jesus is your great High Priest.

During His life on earth, Jesus’ love for you put Him in the trenches of difficulties and troubles – like the ones you experience. He went through the painful stuff. Because He endured all types of suffering and rejections – without sin – He intimately connects with your deepest struggles and sorrows. Jesus is your great Lover.

You can approach Jesus at all times about anything. Reach back from your heart by faith to His great heart. Grab onto the Scriptures about God’s love for you. You can have confidence and assurance in His perfect love. Jesus is your door to God’s great heart.

There is no sin, illness, condition, loss, torment, or sorrow that the love of God does not care about. His love drowns out all screaming voices. His whisper overpowers the cacophony of this noisy world. The storms of life are calmed by God’s love. It covers your sins, provides in your illness, comforts in your sorrows, companions with you in your rejections, and fills the holes of your losses. God loves you. Jesus is the voice of God’s love for you.

Jesus cares about your needs. He created them. Hunger, thirst, sleep, stress, companionship, health – all part of the template of being human. You were created to depend on God. Because God loves you, He promises to meet ALL your needs. (Phil. 4:19) Jesus is the one who will meet your needs.

(Article developed from Heb. 4:14-16; Heb. 9:11-15)

For more on God’s desire for a relationship with you, check out Shadows Of Things To Come. This is a fresh look at Hebrews, applying ideas that will transform your life with love and hope.

One of the things we’ve grown used to is the idea of “just add.” We like the idea that you can have something you just add a little something else to . . . and presto! You’ve got something of great value.

How many products or amenities do you have in your home that say “just add water?” I’m thinking about things like:

The idea of “just add” infers something is already in place that is almost complete. It’s ready to go, not lacking in design or capacity. It’s dependable, generally convenient, and likely user-friendly once you “just add.” It also suggests that once you engage it (just add), it’s a “done deal!” You have the completed form – ready to use.

For the most part, these kinds of “just add” items are easy to market. They would be on the list of more desirable purchases. And most often these “just adds” are more predictable in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Considering all these ideas, is it not conceivable that there might be some “just add” items connected to godly living? Is it possible there are some simple, dependable, more convenient, “done deal” kinds of concepts a person could apply to their spiritual walk with God and their inner life of character?

I think the answer is yes.

The number one concept that “makes or breaks” your walk with God is the idea of – just add faith. It’s so simple – yet can be difficult to implement in some cases, especially when trusting God to meet your needs or to work in a seemingly impossible situation.

The Bible continually promotes followers of Jesus to just add faith. This is at the very heart of God. Heb. 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” That entire chapter 11 in Hebrews is nicknamed “The Faith Chapter.” It overflows with examples of people throughout history who decided to just add faith.

Hebrews 11 starts at the very beginning and develops a case for faith.

If you were to answer the question – are you catching attention – what would you say? Whose attention are you catching? How? Why? Is it for faith? Have you joined the ordinary heroes of faith who just add faith and are labelled “faithful?”

You can set the pace for others in ordinary circumstances every day.

That list is full of “head-turners.” They catch attention – particularly God’s attention.

Jesus wants you to connect with Himself – His dynamic person – His essence. That is only done when you just add faith. There is no other way to live in God’s purposes with an Alive and Active Life except by faith in Jesus Christ. This includes details of your day – the things you may think are not that important. Often it’s the details that turn heads. Just look at little kids. They love adults who make details of life interesting, energetic, meaningful, and joyful.

Jesus gave the standard for faith when He said we must become like little children. (Mt. 18:3) Have you noticed how kids often hang onto things important to them? They trust more easily. What happens when we grow up?

Whatever you need, your true Father compels you to approach Him as a hopeful child. The love of Jesus is the energy needed for every scenario in your life. And He provided an example of what this looks like. Following Jesus’ example, we are to be “one” with our Heavenly Father.

That means intimacy! It’s safety. It’s love, comfort, guidance, comradery, peace, contentment, joy, and so on. All this is activated when you just add faith.

Positive energy from Jesus is actually His holiness. It’s powerful. He shares this with you when you trust Him for eternal life and forgiveness of your sins. When His Spirit comes to literally live inside you, you have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) Your faith in Jesus activates all this! There is nothing you can’t do with Jesus in you because the power of God, His positive energy, His holiness, resides inside you.

The Lord longs to infuse you with His power, His energy, His holiness, His eternal resources. He strongly desires to fill your heart with peace, joy, and love. God has promised to love you forever. (Jer. 31:3) Then He adds He will never leave or forsake you. (Deut. 31:6) It’s because you are His special treasure. His beloved. His precious. Yes, even His dear children.

Why not take Him up on this “just add” scenario for the rest of your life? What reasons would you possibly have to cheat yourself out of this life adventure? Do you remember what we already said about “just adds?”

If you just add faith to these strong conditions that are already in Scripture, you’ve got amazing spiritual resources!

Jesus wants you to just add faith in your life. This starts by prayer. It starts between you and God. After you just add faith, you have something of value to pass on to others.

So – just add faith to your every life situation!

Remember that old saying – “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin) It seems ‘ol Ben was onto something. This statement is true of almost everything in life. Just like failing to plan equals planning to fail – so developing a plan to become more like Jesus means succeeding. So why do followers of Jesus fail sometimes?

I’ll get right to the point. You and I have seen followers of Jesus who succeed and others who fail. What is different between them? Does a Christian have any control over failure? Or is each person’s life sort of already scripted out for you – or “written in stone,” and you just need to live out your life?

I’d like to propose every person has control over whether they succeed or fail in becoming more like Jesus. It all depends on whether they have a good plan in place and where their heart is. I’ve heard some folks say that freedom for them means living by the seat of their pants. Doing whatever they want or like. Having control over their destiny.

I think that’s not true. Freedom is doing what needs to be done for the greater good while enjoying the life God has given. Freedom takes both sacrifice and work. Having freedom intuitively means having and carrying out responsibilities. Being able to make choices (of your own free will) to pursue what is good and to be the best you can be – the person God designed you to be – now, that’s freedom! It’s in this place of freedom you start to notice success in becoming more like Jesus.

Sacrifice and work bear fruit when a good plan is in place. Living for self and not having any plan is a shortcut to failure.

You’ve heard of good business plans, effective education plans, successful political plans, war-winning strategy plans, and even plans to be a healthy person. It takes a good plan to lose weight and get in shape, to have a positive marriage, to maintain a good friendship, to raise kids, to be a valued and trusted employee, and even to experience a great vacation. In fact, everything in life involves planning at some level. Even Strategies Of Rest require a plan.

So why not include your emotional and spiritual life in the effort of planning? And what about the condition of your inner heart and soul? Do those things need a plan, too? I think “yes.”

Plans can be good – and not-so-good. Good plans include a number of qualities.

People need a practical, modern-day plan to be an effective follower of Jesus. This plan needs the right kind of power to succeed. And it needs to be a personal plan – one just for you. Finally, the plan needs to be progressive, which includes direct action steps from God’s Word.

The best plans are also flexible. The world has become so challenging and is changing so fast. You need to bend and flex with your strategies to build a solid spiritual framework in these difficult times.

Those are the qualities that make up a good plan to become more like Jesus. Let’s look at each one.

Believers need to make their faith practical. If it doesn’t work in daily life, it’s no good. You need solid directives that help you “work out your salvation.” (Phil. 2:12) So, drilling down into Scripture every day is critical in developing a successful plan to become more like Jesus. Spend time reading, memorizing, meditating on, and journaling God’s Word. Practical means – “where the rubber meets the road.” There are hundreds of incredible action steps, directives, and change points in Scripture. Go on a treasure hunt and find them. You can log them in your journal or device.

Whatever you intend to carry out directly affects who you become. Plans have power. If you start with God’s Word, you will simultaneously be creating action points that are pleasing to God. And you will be activating His power in your efforts. In fact, there is no other place you can start to become more like Jesus. The Spirit of God is the power a Christian needs to succeed. And that power is only engaged through a concept called “living sacrifice.” By giving yourself up completely to Jesus, you actually find who you were designed to be. It’s a fabulous trade. As you lose yourself for Christ’s sake, you find your true self as you plug into God’s power. (Mt. 10:39; 1 Pet.1:5; Rom.12:1)

Having a fresh personal approach is a path you walk to become the person God created you to be. By discovering the person God designed you to be and what He intends to accomplish through your life, you discover your life purpose. This is incredible freedom – to be yourself completely!

God did not make a rubber stamp when He created people. Each person is uniquely different by His design. You are intended to be uniquely different. That means adhering to the basics and principles of Scripture (which never change) while custom-designing their application in creative, fresh ways. To do this consistently and effectively, you need to:

Build your simple plan by prayer. Make sure all your action steps agree with God. Yield to Him in all issues (living sacrifice). And then get busy!

There are thirteen action steps given in Rom.12:9-13 to help you carry out a progressive plan:

We already reflected on the state of our world. These are troubled times. So you need to be flexible. The character of Christ never compromises God’s principles, but it is always flexible. Jesus is flexible.

Here’s an example of flexible. If you’ve ever seen pictures of a tropical storm, you may have noticed certain tall, strong, mature trees bending almost to the ground as the storm whips them out of their natural, more comfortable position. Yet they don’t break or uproot. They take a beating, but they are so flexible, they literally beat the storm.

This is the kind of flexibility needed to beat life’s storms. Plus, flexibility helps you bend in your relationships. It helps you better meet the needs of others. And it helps you maneuver through obstacles you don’t know are in front of you. Flexibility is what every good athlete goes after.

A good plan builds a stable and credible example of Christ’s character. When you match all your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions to God’s Word, you will become more like Jesus. Keep in mind that you can only do this successfully by faith to believe and faithfulness to obey.

Article developed from Rom.12:9-13.

If you haven’t eaten in days, you need food. If you can’t sleep at night, you need help. When you find yourself without heat and it’s freezing cold outside, you have an urgent need. What about when you are in danger? That’s a need, too. Often those physical needs are easy to recognize and find help for. But what do you do with needs of your heart? Your soul? Your mind? Those needs are important, too. It’s time to wrap your arms around how to meet your needs in healthy ways.

It’s as simple as that. People have needs – you and I – and every person on the globe. Many of our needs are not physical. They are emotional, relational, spiritual, and even psychological. These needs should be addressed. So, where do you turn? What should you do?

There is one rock-solid provision that will help in your time of need. No matter what kind of need. Every single time. There is a place you can turn. There are some things you should do.

Whether your needs are visible or not, God is for you! He wants to help. God is rock-solid. He has given many promises He intends to keep on your behalf. You might struggle to believe it’s true in the face of deep disappointment, loss, or loneliness. Long periods of waiting can bring discontent and doubt. And then you wonder if your needs are on anybody’s radar. Are they really important, or do you just learn to live untended?

I believe God intends to meet your needs. Phil. 4:19 says, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.” Everything belongs to God. He is over every domain, both seen and unseen. The fact remains – God loves you deeply. He wants you to succeed and do well in your life, and He has a special place in His heart just for you.

If this is really true, and I believe it is, then why are so many followers of Jesus walking through life with unmet needs? Is it timing? Is there a pecking order and you’re at the bottom? Perhaps you feel you’ve been deceived into hoping God will supply your needs. Then there’s the living sacrifice thing, where you are supposed to be alive, but not really. So many questions. So many unmet needs. Much confusion. And we wonder about needs getting met.

Those kind of thoughts and questions get pretty jumbled up. It’s best to side-step most of those questions and instead go after something else that will actually make a difference. That something else is offered through two provisions.

The first provision is God, Himself. He has promised Himself to you in every life situation. (Read that sentence again!) He promised to never leave you or forsake you. His intervention is for you. Ps. 50:15 says, “Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Then in Is. 41:13, we find – “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” God also said He would never leave you or forsake you. (Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5)

The second provision is His Word. Now, that doesn’t just mean owning a Bible. It means anything and everything that comes out of the mouth of God can be trusted – utterly. His Word is like the word of a gentleman. It’s given with the intention of being kept. Mt. 24:35, Mk. 13:31, and Lk. 21:33 all say, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” God is “fresh off the pages of Scripture” – for you! Friend, that’s significant!

God has many blessings and good things for you to enjoy. He also knows how difficult life can be. With the presence of sin, this world is in continual tension, and that’s challenging to live with.

So, God names Himself for you. He knows you cannot understand many things that happen in life. For these troublesome times, He gives you the gift of Himself through names He calls Himself. Scripture is filled with names of God. And every one of those names is given for your benefit. God intends to meet the needs of His kids. Let’s explore.

In the Old Testament when God adopted the Hebrew people as His own, He didn’t have a name.

When God approached Moses to go to Egypt to set His people free, Moses wanted to know who it was that spoke to him from the burning bush. Who should he tell the people of Israel sent him to set them free. The story is recorded in Exodus 3. Since God didn’t have a name, God told Moses, “I am who I am.”  God was simply saying that He is, and that state of “always being” crosses all time and conditions. Then, He specifically identified what He wanted to be called:  I Am. So, God, Himself, gives you provision #1. Himself.

Gradually, His name became known as YHWH. His name was revered and considered so holy that it wasn’t written or spoken in the common tongue in a way that could be pronounced. Gradually, vowels were added and it became “Yahweh.”

Then God gave provision #2. Throughout the Scriptures, God calls Himself many names. The God with no name, names Himself for you, to meet your specific needs. God created you with needs. That is part of His plan. He intends to meet all your needs as you depend on Him in the rhythms of life.

Psalm 103:13-14 declares God has intimate knowledge about you. He knows how you are formed and remembers your limitations. He has compassion on you when you trust and obey Him – like a loving father cares for his children.

God did not create you to be self-sufficient, but rather to need Him. Self-sufficiency is man-made. God made you with needs. He is OK with that. Are you?

The following chart contains some names God calls Himself for you. You can download this chart – Gods Names Worksheet Form to use in your device and fill out the interactive fields.

Ponder what each name means to you and be encouraged in your “neediness.”  Let go of being self-sufficient and turn to God who calls Himself “I AM” all things for you. It’s time to decide if you will let God meet your needs by faith through provision #1 and #2.

Now it’s your turn. Complete the downloadable chart. Identify your needs. Then search the Scriptures for God’s names that cover each of your needs. Claim God’s power and provision through each name and apply promises He’s given over your life. God will always keep His promises. Let Him define what it will look like – and the timing. Just trust Him, obey Him, and love Him back. God delights in the person who trusts His love.

A name you could start with is the name God selected centuries ago for the God-Man who would be born as a baby. The name Emmanuel means “God With Us.” This name strongly suggests God wants to meet a common deep human need: loneliness.

Your disposition toward God reveals whether you really believe Him. If you come to Him as a child and simply tell Him your needs, and then claim how He names Himself for you, God will meet your needs. BUT it will almost always look different than you picture in your head. Just because it’s not what you want it to look like doesn’t mean God hasn’t met your need. Why not accept His help and timing?

If you relate to God with the faith of a child, with a smile, and with gratitude in your heart – you will very quickly find God is for you! Jesus was extremely partial and compassionate toward children. He said, “Let the children come to Me . . . for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt.19:14) What is your heart like toward God?

These are only a few of many verses that talk about God meeting needs of His people. All of them are activated by faith.

Thoughtfully fill out the chart with God’s names that meet your needs. Then add your own.

Portions of this article are from my book Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God. This book will help you grow your relationship with God through action steps, thoughtful questions, and helpful ideas.

Does it ever feel like your prayers bounce off the ceiling? There have been times I’ve wondered if my prayers make a difference. It seems everyone goes through experiences when it’s easy to be discouraged. Disappointments and injustices can knock the wind out of you. But little things still matter – like receiving a text, a notecard, a phone call, or even just a hug with the message “I’m praying for you often.” Knowing someone prays for you really helps. And it takes things to a new level to remember – someone prays for you always!

The way things are in the world right now, we all need prayer. A person committed to pray on your behalf is a precious gift. I hope you have someone praying for you. Such a blessing is rare. In today’s busy world, people are limited in availability, memory, and understanding of your life. And few pray.

Does this mean prayer has lost its value? By no means! Prayer is one of those things that possesses eternal value. And just like you need daily food and water, you need prayer. It’s just that important.

Jas. 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  Something about prayer changes people, It weaves and channels situations. And prayer opens doors.

I’m sure you’ve heard the words, “I’ll pray for you.” Some who promise to pray will absolutely follow through and lift you to God on a regular basis. Other times, you know the person who says those words has no intention of following through. In some circles, such sentiments have become the thing to say. But empty promises lack power.

The power of a promise to pray is earth-moving. Why would that be? It’s because on the other end of simple, sincere prayer is a God who hears, values faith, and answers prayer. Even when people let you down, you can know there is one person who never lets you down. This someone prays for you always. Do you know who that person is?

Before we identify that special person, just a few words on intercession. The act of intercession is the act of taking up the needs of someone else and presenting them to God. This investment is highly valued by God. And He invites you to partner with Him in prayer – for yourself and for others.

Rom. 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit, Himself, intercedes for us through wordless groans.” If you are a follower of Jesus, this Spirit lives inside you.

Whether others keep their promise to pray or not, you can be assured prayer is being lifted for you continually. So, who is doing that?

Jesus is holy, set apart, exalted, and super powerful. He is your continual Companion, Friend, and Counselor. Because He is a human person like you, Jesus knows loneliness, sadness, disappointment, mistreatment, alienation, and suffering. This unique combination makes Him a perfect Intercessor for you. And He is interested in every detail of your total life. Yes, Jesus is praying for you – always!

Because He loves you, Jesus engages His creative attention, discernment, tender kindness, power, and His giving abilities. Let’s talk about each of these:

Were you aware Jesus is that invested in you? In addition to His resources just mentioned, here are ways Jesus engages to pray for you:

Jesus is doing it right now!   He’s praying for you!

Not only does Jesus pray for you with deep understanding and invested energy. He is able to save you completely from your sins and save you in every life situation you must navigate.

First, let’s unpack “saving from sin.” If you have trusted Jesus for forgiveness, His blood covers every sin you have committed. And it covers every future sin you will commit if you confess it and are repentant. (1 John 1:9)

Saving you from sin also means you trust Jesus to give you eternal life. It doesn’t mean He will take you out of the sinful world yet. You will live in this broken world until you die or Jesus returns. And His timing in both those scenarios is perfect and good. Our future is exciting!

Second, let’s unpack “saving in every life situation.” What exactly does that mean?

Jesus is saving you in each issue you must face and manage. This does not mean taking you out of the issue (necessarily). You get to see His grace and power made alive in multiple ways as you trust Him to help you in your problems and difficulties, and as you obey His Word.

God’s Word says in all things, in the nitty-gritty, in the blow-outs and disappointments, in trials and discouragements, in your sufferings – you are more than a conqueror. This includes habits and patterns you need to let go of.

Rom. 8:37 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

The question? In what things/situations will you be helped with the ability to overcome? The answer: In all things!

Yes, prayer packs a punch! Every sincere prayer grabs God’s attention. It could be offered by a person great or small, written on lovely stationary or out-of-your-back-hip-pocket on crumpled paper. It could be practiced or off-the-cuff, confident or desperate, words or just a thought. ALL prayers are precious to God. They are a sweet aroma on the altar in His very throne room! Check out Rev. 8:3-4.

We can safely conclude every person on earth has at least one person praying for them. Jesus! If you decide to join and pray for yourself, that makes two people praying for you. And if you have another person or two praying, you are blessed, indeed. Sometimes, you have a whole group lifting you in prayer.

Well, what should we conclude about the idea that someone prays for you always? I think it’s this: get ready for the impact – because prayer packs a punch. 

Scripture holds the precious gift of prayer in highest esteem. God is literally leaning forward to hear the prayers of His children.

Lifting one another’s needs is what Jesus commanded us to do. Jas. 5:16 also urges followers of Jesus to pray for one another. Paul was another great intercessor. 2 Tim. 1:3 says, “I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”

We said everyone has one person praying for them (Jesus). Two, if they join Him and are praying for themselves. Why not join in prayer for someone and be part of their intercession support? Take part in packing a punch in another person’s life.

It’s time for you to make some decisions. So, here are some questions for you:

Why not draw close to the Someone who prays for you always? Draw close to Jesus. And He will in turn draw close to you.

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When you start something – a fun adventure, a new program or plan, a fresh commitment, A NEW YEAR – it’s easy to be excited. Fresh starts are a kind of power launch that thrust you forward. Still, with life demands and problem-solving each day, how can you live with strategies of rest after the newness of a launch wears off?

At the close of a season that may have had loss, deep disappointment, or even extreme drain – a new beginning can be a huge relief. In fact, a new beginning can help close the door on a previous season.

When a person desperately needs a change or fresh start, they hope for better things to come. Perhaps you hear echoes of passion for life when everything was a dawn of possibilities. You remember when the promise of opportunity gave your heart reason to beat and put a bounce in your step.

Passion and hope produce energy and make it a bit easier to do the hard stuff. They promote problem-solving. It’s almost as if passion and hope enable you can reach forward to grab onto something brand new.

Most people long for a sense of safety, normalcy, and balance. But they prefer that with a bit of adventure, some happy surprises, good times, and peace. The energy of a new start makes these conditions a possibility.

Of course, there’s the reality that new starts can be hard to maintain. When “new” becomes the norm, discipline often starts slipping off. Daily drudgery sets in. Then – when life gets downright hard, painful, or disappointing, you may feel discouraged. You might even be tempted to give up. And once again, you realize the need to grit your teeth with resolve if you are going to finish well. Early days of passion and hope start to fade. What can be done about this cycle?

Even in this cycle, passion and hope still possess energy. But notice the word “energy.” Energy is power, which is a depletable resource. You need new sources of power to maintain your new start. You also need daily fresh perspective. So, power and perspective provide a boost needed for mental / emotional resilience.  How do you get into this place? Well, it requires a decision to go after some key things.

New starts are a blessing in life. We all need them. They run alongside troubles, trials, and tragedies everyone experiences. But let’s get to that list of key things needed to keep a fresh start alive and active. Each key point is activated by a decision you make.

That list helps maintain a new start. But over time, you still get tired and weary. You need one more thing. You also need rest! In fact, you need a lifestyle of regular rest to replenish the power and perspective needed to run a good race and finish well. You need strategies of rest.

KEY: Rest is one of your richest sources of power! It is one of your power stations to plug into.

So, take a rest! Every serious athlete knows good rest is critical. Since life is a marathon, and your power gets depleted, you must have strategies of rest to regain the passion and hope needed. As a life marathoner, the terrain of your course has a bludgeoning effect, wearing you down a bit more each day. Fatigue interferes with your rhythm. It slows your pace and affects problem-solving skills. Fatigue can trip you up.

Let’s think of it this way. You have the same number of hours a day – and days a year – everyone does. What you may not know is this. Purposeful rest rebuilds your power. This gives you more impact – more punch!

There are many practical strategies to engage purposeful rest in order to maintain your pace after a new start.

Here are some strategies of rest to fill your tank. You can add more of your own. These all involve decisions you make to recharge your battery. You take charge by doing certain things.

Those are some action steps to help you rest and renew energy. But things still come to a grinding halt without strategies to maintain forward momentum.

When you follow 7 steps regularly, even in bumpy times, things will keep moving.

Always remember God loves you and wants to help you live well. His original design is that you partner with Him. You don’t have to wear out, quit, or shut down. You can stay the course! Remember strategies of rest.

Jesus’ original design as your Creator is that you do life together. Because He knows our make-up, He includes regular rhythms of rest. In fact 1/7th of the week is to be set apart to rest (as a Sabbath). In the wear and tear of life, Jesus says, “Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened. I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)

Why not take Him up on strategies of rest?

Have you ever done one of those dot to dot pictures? You know, the ones where you take a pencil and connect all the dots in numerical order? When you are done connecting all the dots, you see a picture you created. It’s always a fun surprise to view the final image. This is an important consideration going into each new year. What dots will you be connecting this next year? What picture will you create?

Dot to dot is a fun activity, especially for kids. But, dots connect a lot more than numbered dots on a page. Life dot to dot forms a fascinating picture – really, a movie of your life. This kind of connect exercise involves every moment, projecting forward and backwards, to reveal portions of your life picture. But since your story is unfinished, your dot to dot is an in-process virtual life story.

Now I have a question for you. How long do you plan to live? 85? 96? Maybe you are aiming for 100 – or more! But have you considered the line that joins all your dots? When a person figures out how to live for the line, not the dot, they keep their life purpose in view because they see a bigger picture. They triage their dots strategically, deciding if every dot is critical to connect to. They also consider how and in what order to connect available dots. Real life doesn’t nicely number your dots. You have to make decisions. And this is where you need God’s help.

How is your life dot to dot turning out? Are you pleased with your picture so far? Is your virtual story – your “real motion picture” – something you are satisfied with?

When looking back, most people wish some dots could have been connected differently.  Still, it’s good to review where you’ve been to better navigate which dots to connect in the future. Some dots are irrelevant to the picture God has in mind for you. So, maybe another question is – are you consulting God about connecting the dots of your life?

Having a pensive approach to your life for another year helps you navigate the unknown. It also gives you insight to connect dots in your unfinished, future picture. Your life is a line, not just a dot. However, a line is a very long collection of dots together. So each dot matters as it helps determine your line and life picture. It only takes two dots to establish a line, so carefully choose each next dot. Why not make the most of every “dot” – every moment, hour, and day.

Segments you connect by dots in your line are choices you make in these space of time:

We just slipped from one year into another. The end of one year morphs into a new one by the simple passing of time. Days slip by all year, but when the passing of days ends one thing and begins another, it is noteworthy.

You are living between 2 dots right now. How will you connect them? That’s a significant decision.

A line is a progression of an infinite number of dots. Side by side, those dots form your life. Yes, live for the line, not the dots. But without the dots, you have no line! The only way to have an intentional line is to have intentional dots. Live each dot with purpose – with fullness and passion under the guidance of Jesus.

God wants to bless you as you resolve to live a life that honors Jesus Christ. He will lead you through every issue you encounter in this new year. He has promised to provide everything you need to live well. 2 Pet. 1:3-4 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

You can have a godly dot to dot life. Why not work to know God better this year? He has so much He wants to share with you, starting with His “very great and precious promises!” Did you notice those word He chose to describe His gifts, His promises? “Very great and precious!” I love that!

And did you notice in that verse from 2 Peter that you can “participate in the Divine Nature?” God invites you into this adventure of knowing Him, becoming familiar with His very essence! What an incredible privilege.

Let God help you with your life dot to dot. Turn to Him for wisdom and power to connect your dots.

You can see the opportunity and adventure in front of you. So many possibilities, and you can create a beautiful virtual life story that honors God. Why not let your life turn others’ eyes to Jesus?

Stubbornness isn’t wrong IF you get stubborn about things that matter forever:

What is standing in the way, keeping you from connecting dots that will project your line forward into God’s goodness? You can change those things. God will help you – if you ask Him. Why not ask Him to open your eyes, to train you in His ways, and to give you power to make changes.

You see, God is faithful. He is in the habit of connecting dots in the most spectacular manner – from the beginning of time of creation – all the way through to your precious line of life. Your life story means a lot to God. And there is nothing better, nothing more comforting, than having a wise, loving, and strong Companion to journey with you from dot to dot.

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