There can be a fine line between testing and trusting God. How we define which side of that line we are on can be at times hard to discern. But in the end the thing that matters most is the condition of our own hearts as we move forward with God.

While there is no work we can do to be saved, once we are saved the work really begins. To live a life that is like Christ and to do the good works Christ has called us to do will require work.

When we pray we must pray with the intention of changing our hearts to align with God's will, seeking his glory. It is only then that we can find the peace and assurance all of our hearts desire.

There are very few that are willing to truly give 100%. We live in a world that accepts in many ways mediocrity. God has never intended our lives to be mediocre, he only wants us to be and expects us to be excellent.

Often in times of crisis it is hard for us to find motivation to serve others. Our natural selves seek to be selfish and not selfless. Jesus on the night before he went to the cross provides us with an example on how to overcome this desire to be selfish.

We all have faith in something or someone. How we handle the trouble life throws at us. Whether things look hopeless or hopeful, whether there is joy or worry, chaos or peace is determined by where we place our faith.

It is not an matter of if we are going to do something that shows our hypocrisy, it is a matter of when. At one time we all are hypocrites. This becomes a problem when it becomes a lifestyle. Jesus warns us against such a way of life.

While we might want to believe that truth is flexible, the reality is that it is not. There is no my truth and your truth opposing views we both cannot both be right. When we abandon truth we abandon hope, we abandon peace and we abandon God.

We live in a world where it is all about what we have or what we do not have. We all want stuff, and much of the stuff we want we do not need. While God wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labors, we cannot let our desire to have things override our desire to be near to God. We cannot let the stuff we own own us.

While many people believe Satan is real not many live as if it is really true. Our greatest weakness is that we ignore that he is working. He lies to the world convincing people that they have the power and right to do as they please and that they are in control. When the real truth is that there are only two masters you are either serving God or you are serving Satan there is no middle ground.