Alive and Active Life

Depression is real. It’s not something you aim for, but as life happens, depression sometimes visits. It’s real enough it must be managed. But so many people simply do not know how. People are looking for help and hope. There is help. And there is hope.

The Psalmist struggled with depression. However, the Psalmist knew he could cry out to God, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5,11; 43:5)

David’s transparency is encouraging. He talks honestly about his difficulties. Then he tells himself to put his hope in God – an invitation that carries forward to you and me.

Here are interesting facts about depression. There are many more.

Although not always linked, depression and pain can be connected. They are cousins. Sometimes they visit and linger too long as your “guests.” More often, they feel like predators. As much as you want them OUT, you feel helpless to make them leave. Instead you find yourself asking questions:

Let’s reflect together on threads you can pull on. You know why? Because these threads are tethered to God.

Some of you have successfully held on for a long time. Don’t discount that. In fact, give yourself high marks for holding on. Gold medals and championships are won by people who hold on. It’s a huge accomplishment to hold on and keep going. Perseverance matters. It’s no little thing. And it strongly showcases your courage and your discipline.

God loves you deeply. Before you ever speak a thought or put a choice into action, He is aware. Is. 65:24 has a message of God’s intimate presence. “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” God is leaning toward you and wants to help you. He is the one who hands out the gold medals of eternity. Not only does He help the person who turns to Him in their discouragement. He also blesses the person who perseveres. God’s opinion matters. And He has a high opinion of you.

You can develop and carry out a flexible management plan to be healthy even while addressing depression. As long as you choose to do helpful things to manage it, you can stay in a good place. Learning and growing matter. Discipline matters. You will keep learning to manage discouraging times all your life. Let your next decision be to become pro-active as you develop and carry out a management plan.

Good can and does co-exist alongside depression and pain. You may feel you are at the end of your rope. Finding and holding onto good – matters. Ask God to open your eyes to little things that encourage. He’s filled your life with them so you don’t lose hope.

Life seems to drag out when you suffer. However, you have to admit – life is flying by. Earthly lives are very short. Numbering your days and thoughtfully pursuing even a small measure of purpose each day – matters.

Your perspective can change your emotional landscape. It’s a kind of trigger that launches your life onto a higher plain. Perspective matters. The kind of character you practice matters.

God is patient, kind, and good. He has sleeves rolled up to help you. Yes, you may feel overwhelmed. But God knows and cares. He can be trusted. That matters. But whether He helps is up to you. You’ve got to let Him help! Just come close to Him with your heart. It works! Hope is found in Christ. This also matters. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Do you believe and practice this?

Holding on is not only an accomplishment you can be proud of. It’s a critical action step you have control over. Start by holding on to Jesus.

When you suffer, it is easy to hear wrong messages. It is tempting to think God doesn’t care. He cares and loves you deeply. But God is not under obligation to answer your questions in your time frame or in the manner you expect Him to.

Jer. 31:3 says, “I have loved you with everlasting love.” This is true for you! Jer. 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Since He loves you so much and has good in mind for you, you can conclude He will carry you through depression.

Jesus is the Friend who will always listen. He promises companionship and compassion. Jesus will meet all your needs – if you trust and obey Him. God intends to:

Launch yourself into God who deeply cares. It matters.

Very NORMAL people sometimes find themselves depressed. For most people, this is a temporary condition. Some manage depression for long seasons. Whichever might be true for you, if you commit to the above points, it is possible to navigate your way through and live a healthy, normal life. God will help you. To partner with God and be able to count on His help – matters!

If you stay depressed or discouraged a long time, keep these good practices. But also remember – “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) He will strengthen you with His hope. Hope is something you can participate in.

“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom.8:28) In God’s estimation, your contributions in this difficult time is invaluable! There will come a time others might need someone like you!

Some depression is severe enough to receive medical care. It may also help to secure counseling from a professional skilled in Scriptural principles. There’s no shame in taking medication to step toward health – or talking with a counselor for emotional/spiritual health.

Remember: Jesus is the Great Physician and Wonderful Counselor. That matters.

“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save . . . will take great delight in you . . . will quiet you with His love . . . will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)

More help for depression.

When is the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and asked – “Do I have a sweet heart or a sour heart?” You have one or the other. Which is it? Sweet or sour?

The best way to figure out if you have a sweet heart or sour heart is to entertain some questions. Here we go.

Those questions reveal your defaults when life hands you a lemon. Did you land on the “sweet end” of the spectrum when you answered those questions? Or on the “sour end?” I mean genuinely – out of your heart – no faking or acting. Where you land gives you a strong indication of whether you have a sweet heart or sour heart. And what you practice is what you become.

When you are in a compromised life scenario, you might be churning inside. If you’re at the edge of a bad attitude or negative perspective, you know if you give in – you’re gonna lose. Sweet becomes sour. Still, you might feel desperate, hurt, angry, confused, afraid.

There are 3 things to focus on when you suspect a sour heart starting to form. Please know this. You can hold your ground and not give in to a sour heart. These 3 things enable you to maintain a sweet heart.

But I need to mention something before exploring those 3 focuses. You can’t do this on your own! If you try to stay sweet in your own strength, you’ll probably fail. If, however, you turn to Jesus in your up-ended circumstance, you will succeed. Jesus is never sour, and He will help you stay sweet. Ask for His strength. “Prefer” His ways above your ways in order to stay sweet.

A person’s demeanor is either sweetened or soured by their level of gratitude. That’s where it all starts. When you are thankful, you see good things still present in your life even when you are going through great difficulties. So, maintaining a sweet heart means being grateful. Gratitude launches these 3 practices.

To “hug” the sweet end and “shun” the sour end of heart health, you need discipline.  Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Discipline in gratitude produces a sweet heart. No wonder God keeps telling His children to be thankful. He knows how He made people. He knows gratitude is better than a multi-vitamin for spiritual health. And He knows it takes discipline to be grateful.

Seems gratitude and discipline are strongly intertwined!

Note: Most of these verses were written in adverse conditions as Paul underwent his own training in gratitude. He chose a grateful heart through discipline, even when he didn’t feel like it. Most of these verses were written while he was in prison.

Launching from a platform of gratitude, perspective is something you have absolute control over. A godly perspective follows hope.  Hebrews 12:2 says to fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

Why is intentional focus on Jesus so critical?

Jesus is the example – the model – of perspective while suffering. And Jesus lives inside joy. He is named: Man of Sorrow and Man of Joy.

But, how could Jesus be anointed with the oil of joy when He suffered so much? Jesus knows godly perspective builds hope with a harvest of gratitude. Sweet demeanor requires perspective.

Hope is not a feeling or desire. It’s a chosen outlook you latch onto with all your might by fastening yourself to God. Hope connects to perspective through 5 action steps:

When you have perspective, you believe Jesus will do some pretty awesome exchanges for you. (Is. 61:3) This is what helps you have perspective.

But to receive what God gives, you must let go of losses. To be truly sweet takes what God gives. Again, consider Jesus. He has perspective and hope. Jesus is sweet. Go after Him with passion as your first, most, and best! Adopt His perspective.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participate in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.” (Phil. 3:10)

A sour person is never sincerely grateful. Again, you start from a platform of gratitude. This happens from trusting God’s goodness, wisdom, love, and strength. When things look terrible, when it seems God is not there, when it feels like your prayers hit the ceiling, responding well takes faith.

1 Cor. 10:9-10 identifies two incorrect attitudes that offend God (and He is NOT easily offended):

These do not reflect faith in God. Do you ever do these things?

For our discussion, we will focus on grumbling. These are defining points of grumbling:

Lack of gratitude blocks your ability to recognize God’s provision. It makes you blind to possibilities. And it’s a subtle form of pride. A person who is not grateful is never happy, never content. They often grumble. And they don’t practice faith.

Conversely, when a person is genuinely grateful, they find it a lot harder to sin. It’s a kind of “auto deterrent” for sin. No wonder God repeats His message through Scripture – “be thankful, praise the Lord, have a grateful heart, give thanks.” This is the best way to represent your faith in God.

God formed the human heart. He knows its design. He wants to:

Conclusion

To maintain a sweet heart and prevent souring, practice gratitude. This requires discipline, perspective, and faith. 2 Cor. 2:15 says you can have the sweet aroma of Christ in your life every day in every life circumstance.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6) Since this is true, ask yourself some questions:

Skip SOUR! Stay SWEET!

* Much of this post was an excerpt from my book Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God. To purchase this book, click REACH BACK.

Take a look at your hand. Right now, just lift your hand up and look at it. All your fingers, thumb, and knuckles. Your hand is an incredible creation. In an allegorical manner of speaking, your hand was designed by God to be a Peace Hand with strength, control, and agility similarly to your physical hand.

Here are some things your physical hand can easily do:

So, to say your hand is one of your best features is almost an understatement. It’s a terrible loss to have impaired function of your hand – or to lose your hand completely.

Your hand can be a fabulous reminder of a gift God has given you – personal peace. So, we call it The Peace Hand. Your hand is always with you. But what about peace? Is peace always with you? Maybe – maybe not. How can you use your hand to remember to enjoy peace more often?

We just stated your hand is a reminder of peace. Let’s refine that idea. God’s shares His peace with you so it becomes your own personal peace. And just like all gifts you receive, you need to:

Do you remember some of the nursery rhymes and songs you learned long ago? One little song I remember names every finger. It’s purpose is to teach toddlers about their fingers and hand. I think it goes something like this. A question is posed, and then the answer is given. It starts with your thumb. Hide it behind your back with all your fingers until the question is asked.

QUESTION: Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb. Where are you?

As you answer, you pull your hand from behind your back and make the featured finger bow several times.

ANSWER: Here I am. Here I am. How do you do?

Then the song takes you through all the fingers in the very same way. Here are all the fun finger names:

Since your hand is with always with you, a peace reminder is always with you, too. Here’s how.

Just as we named each digit (finger) in the nursery song, we name each finger for reclaiming your personal peace from God. Take a look at this image and the questions on each finger. Then we’ll explore each in depth.

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:

As you wrestle through these 5 questions – and the specific questions under each of the 5 questions, there are some outcomes you can guarantee.

First, If you choose to answer each of the 5 questions by faith with a “yes,” you can pick up God’s peace. Actually picture yourself picking up the gift in your mind. It is wrapped with a bow – sitting there with your name written on it. Jesus secured your peace at a high price. It’s yours! Believe it. TAKE IT!

Next, peace is not a feeling. It is a “chosen condition” that can be present in good times and bad. God gives peace to His children, but only some pick up the gift. You choose whether you will pick up God’s peace – or not. Why not make it personal?

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

Did you hear that? Jesus is not only addressing your personal peace. He is also addressing the state of your heart. Jesus does not want your heart to be troubled. And He is addressing your enemy – fear. He guarantees you can overcome it!

If peace is gone from your heart, how do you get it back? Go back to your 5 fingers. You can always remember these questions if you assign one to each finger. Then, any time, anywhere – night or day – ask yourself the 5 questions.

Why not be an “overcomer?” All you have to do is pick up your peace gift from God. Why not have a receptive heart? Here’s how to claim your gift of personal peace:

“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

This post is a partial excerpt from my book Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back To God.

I encourage you to purchase this study book and read more about peace. You will also explore topics like:

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

You hold a puzzle piece in your hands – only one piece of a very big puzzle. Sometimes you might hold several pieces at a time. Have you looked carefully at your piece(s)? What do you think those colors, shapes, and designs are part of?  Where do you fit? What do you do with one piece of a big life puzzle?

Over the holidays you might pull out a puzzle to do with your family. The box includes lots of pieces and an example picture of what your puzzle will look like when it’s finished.

Life is like a puzzle – but it’s not like the holiday puzzle. Each day you work portions of the big picture to fit your piece(s) into place. Sometimes you try so many times to find the right connection. This is particularly frustrating when you have an important decision to make or you need a response to an issue.

Your piece is important to complete a big life puzzle. You may wonder how you fit into the huge picture, but you can get clues as you study your piece. Your clues are color, design, shades, and shapes. Then study where it might fit. The big life puzzle is more than any one person can put together. But every person can find the place their piece fits – if they are willing to work at it.

The very process of finding where your piece belongs is valuable – to you and every other piece held by someone else. Please never think your little piece(s) aren’t important enough to place. If your piece is missing, there is a gaping hole in the full picture. You are needed and wanted.

God created the big life puzzle, and He designed your unique piece(s). The “fitting together” process is highly valued by God. He promises to help you. After all, He asks you to put this thing together by faith – not by sight, of all things! (2 Cor. 5:7) Can you imagine doing a physical puzzle like that?

God wants you to have a part in His big picture. His incredible strategy makes the entire picture glorious, beautiful, striking, and even pensive. Your work is to engage your will and put things together to honor and cooperate with God’s big picture. This is where you find meaning to your life.

Looking at only one puzzle piece that belongs to a bigger picture brings many different responses. Here are 6, but there are many more responses:

When you only have a piece or two of a huge puzzle, and that puzzle is your daily life interface with everything else, it can be confusing. So many questions! How do you even begin? Where do you attempt to place your piece? What if you don’t have time or energy to figure out how to assemble your piece with “tabs” and “blanks” of other pieces? How do you know the big picture is a desirable one? And then there’s a very common scenario – What if you are impatient?” Working a puzzle takes patience, and life is a puzzle.

Life often gives too few answers. However, 2 Pet. 1:3 says God gives you “everything you need for life and godliness.” Jesus started the big life puzzle long ago. He values your part and plans to help you, enable you, empower you, and plug you into His original design – even in this broken world.

Why not say, “YES” to Him? Just trust God and do what He puts in front of you. Rest in His love and wisdom. And remember He will lead and guide you.

God sees every puzzle of our lives, and He sees the big picture. Even pieces the enemy tries to throw into the mix do not go unnoticed by God. Nothing surprises God or catches Him off-guard. He is continually working His purposes. Even though the big picture is not in your field of vision, there are some things you can do to partner with Him as you work your part of His big life puzzle. You do this by faith.

Four things you can DO even blindfolded as you work the big life puzzle:

If God asks you to do things that don’t make sense in your brain, determine to respond with the above steps anyway. God is all about lifting you out, gathering you up, and bringing you back into the place He has for you. That is His work.

Your work is to follow the above steps as you deliberately refuse to immerse yourself in the world’s traditions and tendencies. As you tear down everything more important than God in your life, as you eliminate all activities, thoughts, goals, dreams, and words that do not represent God’s ways, and as you cleanse yourself from everything that offends God, you will be very busy! “Working out your salvation . . .” (Phil. 2:12)

If you faithfully pursue God first and most, God will keep you in a good place. You will enjoy deep peace, contentment, and freedom, even when you don’t see the big picture. As you work by faith, you find yourself empowered, emboldened, and effective.

Bring your very best to God. Apply every energy to the four things in the previous list. God will keep His word to you . . . and your children . . . and their children – as your generations do the same four things. The result? Living in His peace (not necessarily trouble-free). You will be:

God is faithful. You can depend on that. Faithfulness is His very essence. The question you should wrestle with has to do with you. Are you faithful? The opposite of faithful is faithless? Faithless means “promise breaking.” So which word best defines you? Faithful or faithless? Perhaps you are somewhere in-between.

To be human is to be “promised to God,” the Creator of life. You belong to Him, but you get to choose if you will live in that promise – if you will be a very special piece in His big life puzzle. It’s no one else’s choice. Just yours. Why not confidently go forward, knowing He is working as you work to place your puzzle piece(s) in the big life puzzle? You are intended to be partners.

God has chosen you. Can you believe that? Why not let God show you what He has had in mind for your life since before creation? Put yourself in a position to receive from Him. Choose Him back and become a miracle puzzle piece in process.

Here are seven questions to consider as you work to find where your puzzle piece fits:

Remember: “by faith and not by sight.” Trust the One who designed your piece and knows exactly where He wants to place your life. Your piece matters. No one else can take your special place.

** This article, Day 55, is partially taken from Despicable We: Daily Studies in Ezekiel. Check it out for practical tips on how to live in a tough world.

Every believer in Jesus has struggled to quit sinning at some point. Things you don’t want to do, you seem to migrate toward. Things you do want to do, you seem helpless to carry out. It feels a bit like being trapped. Still, you want to please God and live a good life.

There was a famous person who struggled to quit sinning. And they figured it out.

Last article, we explored The Sin List. And we concluded every person has some kind of list. That’s why every person needs a Savior. This article explores the promised reality that you (and I) can quit sinning. Plus, we’ll look at some promises and resources to help.

So, I am saying – YES – it is possible to quit sinning – increasingly!

You probably know who this is before I write the name. It’s a man – well-known around the world. His impact and influence for Jesus has been astronomical. Through this man, many people have learned to live by faith and “get free.” God used this fellow to be a game-changer in the spiritual health and practical success of God’s people. His name? Paul! The Apostle Paul had issues with the sin struggle. Listen to his own words –

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? . . . 

. . . Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” (Rom. 7:21-25)

Did you know Paul had a sin problem after he became a believer? Did you further know he struggled? His struggle and what he discovered has become a critical piece in “getting free.” Now believers have a powerful, practical process to overcome a very real problem.

Paul goes right for the jugular in most of his writings – something I appreciate increasingly as I grow in my faith in Jesus. His writings have become “go-to-passages” for me.

Paul gained deeper understanding of the conflict inside believers as they take steps beyond salvation and into discipleship. That entire process hadn’t been clearly laid out before. Yet through Paul’s struggle and findings, we now have a resource to use. I’m confident this was God’s plan.

Paul said a lot of bold things. In past years reading his letters, I’d felt he is somewhat brash – “in your face.” Here is one example of many. He said something to this effect. “The law is perfect and good. You are not perfect and good. You’ve been sold out to the dark side!” (Please keep in mind this is a paraphrase of Rom.7:14)

Oh dear! Sold out to the dark side.

Who sold you out? Then comes the terrible realization: You did! Now your existence is constant tension – wanting to do what is right, but constantly not! Desiring to do good, but doing bad. You feel miserable and frustrated as this tension mounts inside and time stacks up in years. “What a wretched person I am!” SOMEBODY HELP! (another paraphrase of Paul’s desperate words in Rom.7:24)

We are talking about a believer here, not a non-Christian. But this believer feels trapped. Imprisoned. If you are this person, and if you are willing to follow a simple action plan, you’ll discover Paul’s secret to change things. You’ll also discover some things are free, and other things cost everything you have – if you want to succeed. The secret – Paul figured it out and included it in his many letters in Scripture. God wanted Paul to be His voice.

Yes, that’s the good news. Salvation is free! It’s an exchange arranged by the Trinity before creation and carried out by Jesus. In a nutshell: The Big Transfer – your sins onto Christ and His righteousness onto you. This salvation is free to you. It was not free to Jesus. It cost Him everything He had – His very life! But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

This message is what Paul is famous for in every letter. In fact, he really “bangs” on this critical turning point in a believer’s experience – Discipleship Is NOT free! It costs everything you have – your very life!

Becoming like Jesus is now your work. (Phil. 2:12c) This work should consume you as your new, permanent passion. Here’s why. God provided all you need to live free from the deceit and trickery of the enemy. That terrible deceit/trickery approach the enemy used caused the human race to fall. But God loves you with everlasting love. He will never stop loving you. God wants you free! And so, Jesus agreed to come to earth, become one of us, and take on the punishment of following the enemy.

On one hand, you have a guy who hates you, will do anything to trip you up, and will laugh while you fail and break apart. On the other hand, you have a Guy who loves you, will do anything to save you, and will rejoice with you as you learn to live above the brokenness of this life. You get to choose who you will follow. The “small g guy” or “capital G Guy.”

So you must decide. God gave you a free will and has no intention of taking that precious gift away from you. Still, He deeply desires that you use your free will to choose freedom, joy, and life! An Alive and Active Life!

You owe Jesus a debt of love for His sacrifice. Will that sacrifice be in vain for you? Likely, you are a believer – so you’ve made the first decision to trust Jesus. But – have you decided to give your all to Him? Are you a living sacrifice every day? (Rom. 12:1) If you have not surrendered completely to Jesus, you will continue to fail – because you still think sin is an option. You don’t yet consider yourself dead to sin.

This is your application section for today’s content. These helpful action steps empower you to quit sinning. Take it from Paul. These work.

Sin was not part of God’s plan. Jesus broke sin’s power at the cross. The option to sin is not true! Here’s why. Since my sinful nature died with Christ on the cross (accept by faith), and since my original nature rose with Christ from the grave (accept by faith), I must now consider myself dead to sin because sin is technically dead! Jesus took care of it on the cross. Otherwise, I live in a “make-believe world,” instead of the reality of the cross. And the cross happened! Since Jesus changed everything, I must learn to think differently. Consider this: Success starts to come when you tell yourself, “This choice is no longer an option!” This will take TPT:

When sin is dead, it has no power over you. It feels great to be free! You are “perfect by faith” in Jesus as you resolve to practice and change behaviors. No more excuses. Time to do what’s right! What is real! What will last!

When you really commit to this action plan, aligning every thought, attitude, word, and deed, you still may fail on occasion. But that will diminish. If you sin, confess it, and ask forgiveness. There is provision for that – through Jesus. Then get right back to working out your salvation.

There is no provision for perpetual, purposeful sin!

Article developed from Romans 7:14-25 – explored more in It’s Your Move: Strategies In Thinking.

Have you ever wondered what the worst sin is? Most people have some kind of sin list of “really bad sins.” Some folks have a list of “more permissible sins.” I guess the question that matters most is – does God have a sin list?

If we were to gather up a list of what each person on the globe thinks should be on a sin list, we’d have an interesting document. The data might vary from culture to culture, but there would likely be common worst sins.

People fall in different places when it comes to sins. Some abhor the very idea of being on a sin list, and they come up with all kinds of justifications why they couldn’t possibly be on any list. (This is a kind of pride with fingers of insecurity.) Others know it’s absurd to claim not sinning, but they take things to the opposite extreme and confess to almost every short-coming imaginable. (This is often a kind of insecurity with threads of subtle pride). Still others deny any sin list at all. (This is arrogance!)

There is a helpful way to look at a sin list. It’s God’s way. He never exaggerates, nor is He rude or blame-placing. God doesn’t even track sins – although He is very aware of every single sin. It is safe to say a couple of things about God and sin:

There is a hefty list of sins in 2 Tim. 3:1-9. The passage starts by claiming there will be all kinds of trouble in the last days. It closes by saying people will oppose truth, be corrupt in their minds, be disqualified in their faith, and not get very far in their folly. Sound anything like today?

The middle section of that passage has a long list of sins. Here it is. People will be:

Oh, wow! What a list! So I ask you again – sound anything like today? If you managed to read through that list unscathed – you are a better person than me (and everyone else). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

This sin list represents humanity in our fallen state. It is a peek into what terrible times will be like in the last days before Jesus returns. And it represents what is going on in our world today. A reasonable conclusion? We very well could be living in the last days. Time is short.

Sins on God’s list cause relationship problems, moral issues, awkward tangles, and make life a very bumpy ride. Each sin adds to a turned-upside-down world. Loving pleasure more than loving God marks a self-driven world. We surely need Jesus to point us back to what humanity was designed to be. You can be the very person God created you to be.

Since God has not declared one sin worse than others, no human can make that determination, either. God does, however, list one command first in the Ten Commandments. That’s significant – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex. 20:3)

And when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Mt. 22: 36-38) Clearly, having anything in your life that comes before loving God violates this great and first command.

Still, sin is sin to God. And Jesus died for all sin. I’d like to suggest one sin that is very serious specifically for God’s people. This sin is in the list above. It not only works against God’s great and first command. It also puts forth a path of the very cycles that trap Christians in patterns and habits of deception, justification, and hypocrisy. That sin is having a form of godliness but denying its power. (vs. 5) Why is this one so serious?

Having a form of godliness but denying its power sets a person up to fail. Who wants to do that?! Further, it makes a child of God to be a fake, a shell, a robot, a hypocrite (a Pharisee). Do you know anyone who’s dream is to be like that?

Perhaps not. Still, pretending to be someone but denying the very essence of all that makes you that person is a serious misrepresentation and a terrible loss. That’s why Christ’s claims are so critical and powerful. For a believer in Jesus to claim to be godly but deny the power of God to make them godly – it’s completely illogical!

Claiming godliness with no power leaves a person depraved and living in conflict. Denying God’s power to complete the good work He begins in your heart is making God a liar. (Phil. 1:6) Further, you will never love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength – or love your neighbor if you claim godliness that is void of power. But isn’t that what many church-going believers do today? And since loving God and loving others are the first and second greatest commands, refusing to adopt the power in them creates a barrier to knowing God and being godly. It’s a hopeless circle.

But – what if there is power in godliness? What if everything God says He will do is dependable? What if the power that raised Jesus from the dead can transform your life and empower you to help change the world? Maybe it’s the real-deal.

Why not throw your lot into believing God? Adopt a perspective that He is the power that makes you genuine. He connects you to the real you and will finish the work He started in you – if you stop denying His power and start living in it. Why not proclaim the all-powerful God holds all things together, including your life each day? (Col. 1:17) You can deliberately choose to live inside God’s love and goodness. Choosing is your will power.

Believing the power of Jesus Christ will change your life and give you a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

The Lord is faithful in every way. He will always forgive, heal, and rebuild – if you repent. God honors the person who responds to Him. He is also faithful to follow through with consequences for unfaithfulness, including punishment – like any good parent.

The Sovereign Lord gives you over to what you pursue with your will. If you refuse His love, He gives you over to that choice. If you refuse to respond to His corrections, He allows consequences that break your life – and His heart. After all, He died so those things would not happen. If you choose to believe and live in God’s love and commands, He gives you over to every promise fulfilled.

Gal. 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” God keeps His Word. Col. 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” 

God wants to give you an Alive and Active Life!

** This article is developed from 2 Tim. 3:1-9 and Day 33 of Despicable We: Daily Studies in Ezekiel – a book overflowing with hope and helpful tips for living in a world with a long sin list.

Pause! Right now stop what you are doing. Put your hand over your heart – or place your fingers on your wrist to find your pulse. Be ever quiet and still as you feel the beat of your heart. That steady beat keeps you alive. Can you imagine how ineffective your heart would be if it was a stone heart?

You actually have two hearts. One is the physical heart already mentioned. It pumps lifeblood through your body to nourish cells. Its steady rhythm keeps you alive.

Your second heart is something you can’t see. You can sense it and sometimes even “feel” it – but it belongs to another dimension: the unseen realm not yet visible in the physical world. This heart has a strong, steady rhythm when you tune it to God. It pumps life through your inner person so you thrive each day.

Both hearts help you have an Alive and Active Life. But your second (invisible) heart is the critical pump that must be maintained and calibrated daily. If this invisible heart is not taken care of, you will be left with a stone heart.

There are many reasons a person’s heart can become stone-like. Let’s look at a few.

A damaged heart begins to decline into atrophy.

Atrophy of the heart begins death of the heart. As it slips in and out of this deteriorating state, more and more of the heart dies. It becomes cold, and uncaring. The flow of nourishment ends. So, a heart of flesh eventually becomes a heart of stone. It’s a sad thing to lose your pulse and steady beat in life.

If you sense you might be in this process, you are not alone. Many folks have struggled with spiritual heart health. There is hope. This could be a new beginning instead of an end.

We already explored some reasons your inner heart might begin to atrophy. But – what really causes the atrophy process? What’s going on underneath? It’s the “underneath thing” God wants to fix in order to heal your heart.

Scripture says your heart declines when you lose the ability to see and hear God or when you replace your hunger for God with other desires. Rev. 2:4 says, “I have this against you: You have departed from your first love!” 

The seeing, hearing, and lost desire are not physical sense sets or drives of your body. They are sets and drives in God’s invisible dimension. Spiritual eyes and ears help you navigate the unseen world. 2 Cor. 4:18 tells us to fix eyes not on what is seen, but rather on what is unseen. Not on the temporary, physical dimension, but on the eternal dimension. Jesus often said, “The one who has ears better listen!” (Mt.11:15; 13:9; 13:43; Mk. 4:9; Lk. 8:8; 14:35)

Jn. 12:37 says, “Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in Him . . . “ So His miracles never became a reality for them. Disbelief stripped them of health and the healing Jesus wanted to give them.

So, what causes eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear? How does hunger for God fall off? What is really happening “underneath?”

There are two kinds of rebellion. First is an active kind that deliberately sets up personal preferences and plans above God’s. The second is a passive kind – a laziness or lack of alertness that settles into whatever is easiest. Both are rebellion.

Active habits such as smoking, drugs, drunkenness, over-eating, etc. erode your physical heart and body. Passive habits such as no exercise, not taking necessary medications, lack of hygiene, etc. pull your physical being down. Both these patterns are a kind of “rebellion” against proper care of your physical person. They affect your heart. Whether active or passive, not taking responsibility of your physical heart and body will produce poor heart health.

It’s the same process for spiritual heart health. Whether active or passive, rebellion atrophies the heart. The result is a stone heart. Without the flow of God’s life through you, numbness and/or bitterness sets in. It’s a terrible way to lose yourself!

What can be done? You need intervention, healing, and care. You need an IV dripline.

Rom. 4:17 says, “. . . God . . . makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.” God is the only Source of life, and He can raise the dead. So, He’s your best chance at healing a stone heart into a soft heart again. He offers help through His IV dripline. 

Your faith may seem tiny – only a pinhole. But that’s all it takes! A tiny pinhole where your faith pierces from your dimension into Mighty God’s dimension becomes the portal through which “spiritual fluids” flow, much like the fluids of a hospital IV dripline. You hook up to the dripline by faith. Just pierce a tiny pinhole by faith – and you’re in! God takes it from there.

You do have two additional things to do. 1. Actively seek God. 2. End all rebellion – both active and passive. Jer. 19:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me seek me with all your heart.”

Why not connect to God’s IV dripline and adopt His “Heart Healthy Plan.” This plan does things you can’t see at first. It includes time in His Word, conversation with Him about all details (prayer), and it includes the trio of trust – obey – rest. 

God’s IV Dripline fluids do 7 miraculous things to change your heart of stone back into a living heart.

You can have an Alive and Active Life in Christ! Why not hook up?

Mk. 9:24 tells a story of a dad who desperately wants healing for his son, possessed by much evil. This dad begs Jesus, “IF there is anything You can do . . . “ (v. 22) Jesus says to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.“ (v. 23) Immediately the father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24) The heart cry of this father is enough for Jesus. The father connects with Jesus through a pinhole, and Jesus does the rest. Life-giving flow begins in spite of remaining unbelief.

As you follow Jesus, you may still sense some unbelief inside your heart. Be honest like the boy’s father. Cry out to God to help your unbelief. He will. “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (Jas.1:6-8) So – believe. Then – “Calm and quiet (your) soul” (Ps. 131:2) as the drip line begins to work.

Once you have a heart healthy plan, daily hook up to God’s life-giving dripline. Stay close to God. Jas. 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you . . . “

You can have a tender, throbbing heart instead of atrophy. Give your stone heart to Jesus. Adopt healthy heart management steps. Take daily inventory. Pull out your spiritual stethoscope and listen to your heart.

Listen to God’s guarantee – “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezek. 36:26)

You can have an Alive and Active Life.

** This post, Day 15, is a partial excerpt taken from Despicable We: Daily Studies in Ezekiel.

Sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up! Days can get pretty tough as the years slip by. Yet – there is encouragement for the taking – all around you. Little things here and there. Have you found God’s little thing that encourages today?

I remember realizing years ago – it takes growing in alertness to notice God’s little thing that encourages. I’d like to share just a couple of examples from my life.

I had my aromatic cup of coffee, Bible and journal. By the soft light of several candles, I enjoyed a regular appointment with a dear Friend. What a privilege to meet God in the early morning hours – alone! To drink in the delight of His Person – and let that Person change my person. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) I lingered in the warm love of Christ’s presence. That morning, the soft candlelight (along with my coffee) was a little thing that encourages.

That same day, I had a visit from another friend – no appointment. A beautiful mourning dove nestled onto my windowsill on the other side of the screen barely 2 feet from my face. (this real-time picture – less clear through screen and glass) At first, I didn’t notice him as I worked busily. Suddenly my eye caught his presence, and I froze realizing the unusual phenomenon. Normally birds flutter away with any movement. This little fellow looked all around – and directly at me. He was quiet and at peace with no intention of leaving.

This mourning dove was a reminder God is with me and has no intention of leaving even when I’m unaware of His presence. This dove – this little thing that encourages – filled my heart with cheerful hope.

These small blessings were gifts of warm love and cheerful hope from God. Each appointment – one regularly scheduled, the other a serendipitous surprise – had a message:

God loves you so much! You are precious to Him.

He created you with purpose and design.

God wants to do something “new” in your life each day.

Something “new” is God’s specialty. He fills your day with little new things. His love is new every morning. (Lam. 3:23) Still, “newness” seems to wear off over time. That’s OK – because just like the little mourning dove, God has no intention of leaving. He intends to re“new” you every day.

Your part? Look to Him with eager expectation. The critical question isn’t about God. It’s this: are you attentive enough to notice His little thing that encourages you each day?

Eager expectation is one of my favorite terms. It describes what our position should be as we interact with God. Interestingly, the term became meaningful to me years ago during a string of disappointments and losses. I was in a place I had to engage strong faith and obedience. From that immerged a “new” life perspective – eager expectation. I realized – I had to choose eager expectation. It was a leap – a bit scary. But as I launched my life deeper into the Lord, I found the warm love of God and His cheerful hope – in the midst of the worst circumstances.

Living in discouragement sucks the energy out of your soul. Yet throwing yourself by faith into Jesus in discouraging details, energizes and re”new”s you. Truly, this is amazing. With new energy and perspective, you can interact and manage your life situations under His guidance. It’s an intensive, critical training program.

Our incredible God, the One who forgives and redeems, invites you to be His child and personal friend. He promises to mentor and teach you – a personal trainer. His invitation stands 24/7. Why not accept the offer to be in His training program? You can become skilled at managing perspective, attitudes, preferences, communications, and more. His training builds awareness of each little thing that encourages as you address life’s complicated troubles.

Practice of the nitty-gritty maneuvers of God’s training changes you. It’s a kind of morphing – a transformation. Little shifts grab hold of your heart. Don’t get me wrong – the training IS HARD! I’ve never been in the military, but I’m confident God’s training courses are harder than boot camp. Still, God’s training stimulates growth into the next level of maturity and strength. Stick it out. You won’t regret it.

As I’ve already indicated, God’s training transformed my life. In fact, He continues to invite me to enroll in a variety of training courses each season of my life. These programs are fabulous, tough training: rich, invigorating, re”new”ing, and establishing. Every training course brings deeper peace and richer character. I love that!

Through God’s training, I’ve become increasingly aware of each little thing that encourages. They are all around every single day! I’m reaching with all my might to be more like my Trainer, Jesus. He is fresh, wise, and strong.

I’ve found God refines and enriches through discipline, His strong love, and practical application of Scripture. And He builds awareness of His little thing that encourages in every circumstance of every day.

God has had a special design for your life since before the creation of the world! He deeply values and esteems you. His training programs enable you to engage and empower an Alive and Active Life.

You can be:

Jesus is the “Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith.” Heb. 12:2 also says – fix your eyes on Jesus. Why? Because He’s already been there and done it! Jesus prepares your path with impeccable attention to detail.

Summed up – Jesus blazes the trail. He is your Companion in training. And He’s the Guy pulling up the rear to provide instant fire-power in an ambush.

Jesus would never ask you to do things you cannot. He knows “You Can Do This.” His training transforms you and helps you see the little thing that encourages. By faith, you can say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13)

Daily, God gives you rich moments to bless you. A mourning dove, warm candlelight, lovely cup of coffee. Maybe a double rainbow, a sunset, a gorgeous flower bloom, an aroma of herbs. Perhaps an uplifting lunch with someone, a timely Scripture verse, a check in the mail, an invigorating jog, a kind embrace when things go badly. Whatever creative little thing, Jesus is saying to you, “I am right here, dear one. I have no intention of leaving you. I love you with an everlasting love.”

Listen to the promise of these verses that contain not a little thing that encourages. They contain BIG POWER!

There are so many days I realize I could love better. If you are like me, you work hard to love the people in your life – family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even someone you meet as you run errands. But we know deep down we need to grow in love – for God and for one another. We are aware that He loves perfectly; we can love better.

I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ age when He completed His life on earth. He died at only 33! That’s just not very old! How old are you? Stop and compare your age with His age when His life on earth was over.

Jesus was only here for a short time as a human. Sometimes I wonder how much time I will be given on this earth. Do you ever wonder this?

At 33, I was still figuring out who I am. I discovered I didn’t understand a lot about life. I’m older now with different perspectives and conclusions, yet there is still so much I don’t know. Life is filled with things that can’t be explained or neatly packaged. I think I’m making less mistakes than when I was 33. But that’s just it – I still make mistakes! I still need to love better. What about you?

When I think back over my youth, I’m aware how lacking I was in wisdom and understanding. I could have made better choices in some situations. And I certainly didn’t know myself or the immense scope of how relationships, communication, and the world works. As I grew up, I became increasingly aware of how broken this world is – and that I’m imperfect and need a Savior. I need intervention, guidance, and new life each day. In my youth as I explored these things, it struck me how little I knew and understood.

Jesus always understood the deep, hidden things of God when He lived on this earth. As a child, He possessed wisdom and understanding. He made perfect choices. And He was absolutely aware of every small system inside the immense scope of the universe. Even as a child, Jesus was still the Creator of it all! Incredible to ponder, don’t you think? “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Lk. 2:52) He knew Himself inside-out and was comfortable in His own skin. Jesus lived with unmatched excellence, perfect love, and no sin. To this day, He still loves perfectly! (And I can love better. So can you.)

So, what was your youth like? Have you come to similar critical realizations about yourself and about Jesus? How well do you know yourself? Are you comfortable in your own skin? How well do you love? How freely do you accept Jesus’ love for you?

Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God. He lived an extremely effective life. There is no argument Jesus lived the most impressive, influential, effective, and loving life! He is a model for all of us. And He started when He was very young. Even at a youthful age, Jesus handled Himself with exceeding wisdom. Yes, Jesus is the best!

The Bible says He learned obedience, skill, and favor with God and man – in a human body. He had everyday normal experiences like you and me. His earthly father, Joseph, taught Him a trade – carpentry. Jesus had to practice His strokes to get good at it. It wasn’t automatic. He learned how to communicate and interact. He practiced basic, human life skills to get from one day to the next. But love? Did He learn how to love?

My guess is Jesus learned about parental love as a child, about sexual love as a teen, about esteem and respect as a young man. However, He did all that learning without sin. The love of God filled Him, oozing from every pore. God’s love channeled His every thought, word, and deed. Scripture says, “The Son is . . . the exact representation of [God].” (Heb. 1:3) Yes, Jesus is the best! He loves perfectly; we can love better.

Scripture is filled with examples and proofs that God loves perfectly. Still, let’s engage our imagination about practical examples of how the Lord might have behaved in love.

(Again, we are using our imagination!)

Have you put yourself in the place to learn from the best? You’ve been invited! Are you watching Jesus’ life carefully as you live your own life? Are you being still in your spirit so you can hear Christ’s Holy Spirit give you direction and affirmation? Jesus put skin on God’s invitation and made the message exceptionally clear – “God loves perfectly.”

As a human, Jesus overcame everything that holds a person back and pulls a person down. He provided an example of how to walk with God each day. Jesus used His human will perfectly and connected humanity with God’s original design again. Jesus finished the work He was sent to earth to accomplish by paying the price for all sins and brokenness. From the cross, He forgave. He loves perfectly; we can love better.

Since we have such a great example presented, “. . . let us run with perseverance the race (God has) marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1)

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn. 13:15) We are to follow Jesus’ example in every detail. You can use the will God gave you to please God. Why not acknowledge you are made in God’s image and live in the original design? You can.

Jesus said no person is greater than “the master.” Jesus is the Master. (Jn. 13:16) And Jesus is the best!

The application questions are tucked into the entire article. I will pull them and compile a list for you here.

Here are additional articles that contain practical ways to Love Well.

Are you ready to learn from the Best? He loves perfectly; we can love better.

You’ve heard of wash ‘n’ wear. Those are the garments you throw in the washer, then the dryer, and even if you miss the dryer buzzer, they don’t wrinkle. You pull them out, put them on, and off you go! They look great. We like to think of ourselves as wash ‘n’ wear. But many days, it’s more like wear ‘n’ tear! We start a day as wash ‘n’ wear . . . and end up as wear ‘n’ tear.

Life is hard. It is broken. It wears you down and often tears your heart up. By the time you get half way through your life, if not before, you are stunned at the wear and tear of this world. It looks something like this:

When you are in this place, what do you do? How do you get from wear ‘n’ tear back to wash ‘n’ wear again?

When you end up in this discouraging place, there is only one good place to turn. There’s only one practical, permanent, potential fix. Everything else you might try is temporary. Works for awhile, but diminishes at some point. It might be a fad approach to “new healthy life energy.” Or it could be a method with pretty good results – but it still lacks the peace and the long-term answers your heart longs for. And it’s gotta be made of the right, long-term stuff . . . just like wash ‘n’ wear material.

Turning to God is practical, permanent and potentially powerful. When you turn to God with desperate faith – or tired hope, He does a work in you in a way you can’t really explain. God does things like this to/for you:

That’s quite a list! You won’t find all those resources anywhere else.

God wants to help you regain your footing when things have pulled you down. He wants to restore you when you have slipped. He speaks directly to you and asks questions that pierce right through all the wear ‘n’ tear. Why? Because God cares about you very much. He loves you.

The Sovereign Lord asks you, “Son  of man, can your tired, weary bones live again? Daughter of humanity, can you gather up, regroup, and rise again?” (Ezek. 37:3)

You are a “son or daughter of man.” God is asking you this question when you are in a wear ‘n’ tear state. He already knows the answer. But He wants you to fully connect with your condition. Only when you are honest at this point can you humbly take up His resources and apply them for transformation needed to become wash ‘n’ wear again.

God asked a worn-out person these questions many years ago. That man, Ezekiel, responded with the only answer he could think of in his worn-out state. He was still in a daze from life’s ravaging affect. So the best he could come up with to God’s questions about his tired, weary bones regrouping and rising up again was this – “O Sovereign Lord, You alone know!”

That’s our best answer, too!

“Jesus, only You know what can be for me in the future. Only You can lift me up again.” And that’s exactly what He’s waiting for. Do you know why? Because He’s dying to bless you and give you fabulous gifts He’s reserved for you from His own heart.

The part that comes next is important. You must ask yourself critical questions – and then answer them. What you answer will make all the difference in whether you can shift from wear ‘n’ tear back into wash ‘n’ wear.

1. Do you believe God can breathe new life into you? (If you don’t, you’re toast!)

2. Are you willing to obey what He asks you to do? (If you aren’t, you’re stuck!)

These critical questions, when answered, will either pull you into God’s miracles or leave you sitting on the side lines discouraged and alone. . . dried up in a heap. And if you answer the questions in a way that leaves you sitting in that pitiful place, I simply must ask: why would you do that to yourself? Why would you stay in a pitiful heap when there are bountiful provisions and resources you can grab up and apply to your life?

One of the first things that helps a person pull out of a downward cycle is to proactively take a step toward a productive option. Jesus has a whole collection of creative, productive options you can choose from.

God will do everything needed – to/for you – if you turn to Him in faith. Plus, He has some fabulous things to say to you and about you. Listen to the incredible words He says, “I will –

About you He says –

God wants to do something special for your worn ‘n’ torn spirit. He can renew you. Why not let Him? This is the process the Lord takes you through over and over through your life. Wear ‘n’ tear doesn’t disappear. It is a common visitor through the years. Losses, sorrows, hardships, sin, disease, brokenness, health issues – all continually threaten to tear you apart and undo you into a pile of dried up bones.

Gathering up, regrouping, and rising up again won’t last long if you try to muster it up on your own. But if you let God help, He will literally knit His rebuilding processes into your DNA essence so you are equipped for the next time wear ‘n’ tear hits your wash ‘n’ wear world.

If you will dare to believe and obey, you will come alive again to finish your journey. You will be brought up from the effects of sin and death, and you will be brought back to a place of rest. What is that place of rest? It is staying close to Jesus forever, by faith, even as He dwells in you forever. Forever starts now! And God has made sure that forever is filled with delight! So, start now.

God wants to do this for you. Do you believe Him? He will put His Spirit in you and help you live with fresh, new energy every day. He will settle you into your own place – bring you home to Himself and to yourself. Do you believe the Son of God/Son of Man? Have you been mustering on your own to get going again? Why not let God help? He will permanently change and equip you for the next time wear ‘n’ tear hits your wash ‘n’ wear world.

Ezekiel said, “O Sovereign Lord, You alone know!” To add something meaningful to those words – your portion – just say, “Jesus, I believe. You can do anything. I will obey.”

For a quiet time study book on this very topic, check out Despicable We: Daily Studies in Ezekiel. It is filled with hope in the face of a broken world. You can have a wash ‘n’ wear life even in a world that is full of wear ‘n’ tear.