Life Journeys

If we don’t sacrifice our lives, we will sacrifice our liberty. The giving of our lives, our best ...is the true measure of genuine faith. Demanding to understand our pain assumes God is no greater than us. The love that is seen on our own cross will release God’s provision when the world turns on us. Simply learn to trust Him.

Holiness isn't a rule to keep. It's an incredible place of divine identity, heaven's answer for an insufficient heart. Hear Him say, "You are hallowed to Me and to the earth. He who touches you now touches Me. He whom you touch also is touched by Me. Every place where you set your foot is holy. You reverence it and I will back you up.”

You’ve been held captive long enough by this world's pain, anger, and fear. Your life does matter. You’re learning how to believe in the storm. Stand up. Be of good courage. You're not being defeated. It’s your season of being set apart. You’re walking on holy ground and victory’s assured. Then He spoke into the morning's horizon: “I’m in control. Don't be afraid. Loosen your grip.”

The secret place of the Most High is my refuge. The moment I want Him more than I want an explanation of Him, the door opens. I become less preoccupied with the human condition than with the divine solution. The diagnosis stops being the largest fact in the room. I need not defend myself before the inner courtroom of condemnation.

Men medicate a hunger for God with self-validating effort. Deep within, the heart stares into the face of God beneath our awareness in a hunger for Him “like the deer pants after the water brook.” It’s a longing that no earthly circumstance can soothe. It’s not merely a bad day. My soul isn’t looking for answers to my questions. It’s looking for Him.

Our battle for peace is seldom won by looking back on the pluses and minuses in our lives. It’s won by finding the face of God. Your struggle is evidence that you’re in a war, not that there’s something wrong with you. You won’t win by fixing your circumstances but by taking prisoners – by taking every hostile thought captive.

A face of hope and peace resting on a body of sorrows will send devils fleeing from everyone who comes near. Faith thinks God’s thoughts, not man’s. The assault doesn’t mean that you’re not right with God. You can’t fight sin, temptation, and conflict with a broken soul. Stop grieving with the thought that you should’ve been better.

Be more preoccupied with the divine solution than with the human condition eating away at you. There is no need to defend yourself against the accusations rehearsed in your own private courtroom. Though the secret place is often found in the sacred seasons of our suffering, love is not rationed out by how well we’ve been managing life.

See the Lord Jesus as your Champion over every adversary. Every fight you've had with sin, temptation, the whisper of deception, accusations, and condemnation and the ache of feeling like you don’t measure up has been won. The path in front of you — that's holy ground. Jesus will lead you into whatever battle is coming. Honor the vessel of dignity you're being handed.

You’re not a failure when your faith hasn’t resolved all your hard times. Success is letting your faith produce one of “heaven’s patriots.” Perfection is heaven’s report for you when faith is allowed to sustain your life in weakness. There’s no shame here. Stop demanding perfect performance as the entrance fee for God's presence.