"... what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus christ, who was preached among you by us...was not yes and no, but yes and Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes, therefore also through him is our Amen to the glory of God through us." 2 Corinthians 1:17-20. The world lies and tells us it has all the answers, but God has a simpler and more grounded way for us to live that always ends and yes and amen.

"For the we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to The obedience of Christ..." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Our faith is not just to be needed on our words, but in how we live in direct opposition to the skewed philosophies, social agendas, and celebrated propaganda of untruth we find everywhere in our world.

"For a while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, having died to that which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the spirit and not an oldness of the letter." Romans 7:5-6. History has shown us that every human attempt to reach perfection apart from God ends in failure and even though it seems like the more logical and safer way to live in the end all it produces is death.

"But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, 'I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, by a nation without understanding I will anger you.' And Isaiah is very bold and says, 'I was found by those who did not seek me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for me.' But as for Israel he says, 'All the day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.'" Romans 10:19-21 God's method of drawing people closer to Him includes raising up people who make non-believers yearn for something better.

"This is the only thing I want to find out from you, did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you do it by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" Galatians 3:2-5. A question we must all ask ourselves on a regular basis is, "Are you pursuing God or just an empty religious practice?"

"For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also, but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as he had said, 'As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest', although his works were finished from the foundation of the world." If God's works were finished from the foundation of the world, who are we to think that we can bring about what is? This is why God reminds us that rest comes by faith.

"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and of the testimony which they have maintained..." Revelation 6:9. Christian martyrs who've gone before us maintained their testimony to a brutal end, one that God knew they would have and did not interfere to stop, because He knew their witness would be what the next generation of believers needed to maintain their faith when persecution came their way.

"But when he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here in hunger!" Luke 15:17. The pursuit of joy, friendship, love, power, and so much more blinds us that we're living a reckless life away from God until our world comes falling apart and we come to our senses that we left the better way.

"The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments." Psalm 119:57-60 God graciously directs us to do our best to stay on the smooth path He has already prepared for us to walk on alongside Him.

"Shout for joy in the Lord, I you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done and faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord." Psalm 33:1-5. Praise should look different in each of our lives because God has gifted us each with different skill sets, energy levels, and ways of expressing creativity and connecting with Him.