In our celebrity-obsessed culture, it's easy to feel like we know these figures in the spotlight, just from seeing their faces so often, or reading an interview or two. Many people are duped into thinking they know God in the same way. But, truly knowing Him goes far beyond memorizing a few prayers, or participating in weekly rituals. To know God, you communicate with Him. Through prayer and through the Word, you come to know His character, His heart, His truth. You'll hear from Him, and it will be so much better than that imaginary persona you thought you knew.

Imagine your best friend lives across the country, so you usually speak by phone. Every week, you unburden your frustrations and share your blessings. After years of communication, your friend needs to confess something. All this time, he has been setting the phone down in order to catch up on little jobs around the house. You realize then, that you had been doing all the talking. In prayer, we may do a lot of the talking, but it's just as important that we hear from the Lord. Ask Him to reveal His heart to you. He has a lot of things He needs you to know.

Hearing the story of Jesus clearing out the temple of all the sellers and money-changers kindles emotion in us. We love stories of vindication, of justice being served...and perhaps, we imagine that story taking place in some churches we've seen today. When greed becomes the motivation for religion, it keeps people from the kingdom of God. Non-believers see hypocritical leaders, people who are seeking the Lord turn back when they see the church is no different from the world. The power of prayer will always trump the power of the dollar, make sure the right one is number one.

When you think back to when you were little, you probably remember a time where everything felt possible...you imagined yourself as a superhero, a king, a queen...a hero. As you grew, that grandiosity faded, and you began to recognize yourself as an ordinary person. But, God doesn't see believers that way. As Christians, we possess unlimited potential to help save lives. As disciples of the Word, our lives are a testimony to a lost world. The gospel message, delivered through us, can alter the course of a person's life forever. See? You did become a superhero after all.

If you look around at churches today, you may see beautiful buildings, uplifting choirs, choreographed programs... impressive, but it's all just a show if God is nowhere to be found in it. Like a fig tree with gorgeous green leaves and no fruit, a church becomes dead religion if the spirit is absent from it. The Word is vital to growing that fruit. In learning about the character of God, believers are nurtured to be disciples, living out a picture of Jesus for the world around. A tree that bears fruit draws in the hungry, but a fruitless tree is no good to anyone.

Imagine you are asked to make a list of the things the Lord has blessed you with. What would it mostly consist of? We may have many material blessings, but nothing compares to the biggest gift of all: Salvation. We are called to be good stewards of our bodies and our homes...but all those temporary things will eventually pass away. The Lord wants to nurture our spirits, maturing us and cultivating our hearts. Don't be distracted by material things at the cost of your spiritual well-being. We are meant to live eternally with the Lord, not to live briefly and fade away.

Imagine you are in school. You're assigned to read a section out of the textbook, but when you sit down to read, you find yourself reading the same paragraph over and over and over...and it never sinks in. Has this ever happened to you in church? Your mind wanders off, you think about other things...and before you know it, everyone is headed for the door. Although it's probably happened to all of us at some time...this kind of distractedness shouldn't become a habit for the believer. Just being present at church means nothing...be there to soak in the Word, for fellowship, and worship.

As American consumers, we are bombarded daily with messages about the latest drugs and treatments meant to help with various ailments. There is something that most of us suffer from that can lead to all sorts of problems...stress and anxiety. When stress is left to pile up and drown us, it takes a toll on our bodies and spirits. But, as believers, we should know that God is always in control. He wants nothing less than to prosper us and to give us peace in our lives. Not only does He know our future, He knows the future of the world as well. Let your rest be in Him.

In the television show, “Let's Make a Deal,” contestants try to get the most valuable prize possible, simply by guessing where the prize is hidden. In life, people like to get something for nothing...and many approach God with the same expectation. At times, many have looked to the Lord for a quick fix...a solution for an immediate problem. They don't want to affect broad change in their lives, which is the message of the gospel! Jesus wants to help us, to give us a new heart and live a better life...but our agenda clashes with His. The bigger the sacrifice, the more valuable it is.

When an animal is in danger, it will go to great lengths to get out of a bad situation, sometimes harming themselves in the process. When people are hurting and in need...they'll also seek a way out. The desperation of rock bottom can lead a person through darkness and sometimes result in permanent scars. The only sure way out of the mess of our own lives is to let Jesus come in and take over. If we ask Him, with one feel swoop He can clear out the sin and misery and help us to build a better life. But, why wait for rock bottom? Let Jesus save your life.