Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

We all need a GPS at some point in our lives. Maybe we’re traveling to someplace new and need directions, or our usual route isn’t available because of a road closure. Well, Pastor Jeff is here today to remind us that God wants to be our guide, helping us through life, and leading us into peaceful pastures. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be difficult times to go along with the calm moments, but we can be equally assured that there is no safer place than walking right by His side.

Whenever I get up in the morning, my mind races to check my phone. Whether I’m checking my unread messages or looking at the weather so I know how to dress for the day, that little rectangle holds so much information that will be important to my day. But when I choose to start my day in prayer rather than flooding my mind with noise, I notice a difference in my spiritual life! Pastor Jeff reminds us today that we have a choice to make every day: will we make God more important than our flesh?

Have you ever been on a boat that got so far from shore that you could no longer see dry land? It can be scary to be in the middle of a vast ocean, with no shelter in sight besides the boat keeping you above the surface. Well, in today’s message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that just as the ark protected Noah and his family from the condemnation of sin, God protects you from the waters of condemnation by sealing you within His grace. You don’t have to be afraid of judgment, because it will never reach you!

The world loves to label evil things as good, hoping that you won’t be paying attention! All kinds of greed and corruption are perfectly legal under the law of the land, but are condemned by God! Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the Law we find in the Old Testament plays an important role, because it lays out God’s standards for life. Something that may be legal in the law of the land may be sinful in God’s eyes, and it’s important to remember to follow God’s commandments over man’s laws.

Living up to the perfect standard of the law is like being asked to recreate the Mona Lisa perfectly. Sure, you can try to be super diligent and recreate every brushstroke as closely as you can, but your recreation will not live up to Da Vinci’s standard. Pastor Jeff reminds you today that you cannot perfectly follow the Law, and that the marriage that bound you to the Law was never going to save you. Instead, it is the grace of God that saves you, by releasing you from your captivity, and giving you new life in Christ.

There’s a difference between knowing something and believing it. When you just know something, the fact may live in your mind, but it doesn’t affect the way you act or the way you interact with the world. If you believe something, it begins to influence your actions and your other beliefs. Pastor Jeff reminds you today that you can’t just know that your sins are forgiven. You must believe that they are forgiven, and allow that truth to permeate into every corner of your heart and mind.

Did you have an irrational fear of quicksand growing up? Most of us have seen at least one movie where our brave heroes find themselves sinking into a dangerous trap. But the way you sink in quicksand is by standing still. If you walk quickly and don’t freeze, you can avoid the worst danger. In today’s message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that you must keep moving when you’re in a dark valley. You can trust in the Lord to make a way for you. All that He asks is for you to keep walking, one step after another.

Did you know that coffee can taste different when grown at different altitudes? As you go higher in elevation, the air becomes thinner, and the temperatures become cooler, creating a coffee cherry with more acidity and sugar content. Well, Pastor Jeff isn’t trying to tell you that you’re a coffee plant! But what he does teach you today is that when you’re facing a season of pressure, it’s not because God wants you to suffer! Instead, God wants to give you the opportunity to grow stronger in your faith!

How many times have you asked God to make you courageous, or kind, or forgiving? Maybe you pray that prayer, expecting God to just snap His fingers and change your personality, but that’s not how He operates! In today’s message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that the fruit of the Spirit is something that grows out of you as the result of life transformation. It’s not the result of instant transformation, but it’s the manifestation of a long and slow process that the Holy Spirit is working within you, day by day! 

At the end of Rocky, the title character is in a boxing match against his rival, Apollo Creed. Even though he gets knocked down, Rocky gets back up and continues the fight, and he finishes the fight with his head held high. Pastor Jeff reminds you today that the difficult trials you face now are helping you build the endurance to face stronger challenges later on. If you’re still standing, still breathing, and still praising God, the outcome of your trial doesn’t matter! You are victorious in Christ!