MissionLife

Take time for yourself, indulge, you deserve it. Sound familiar? We hear these messages from media every day, but Jesus invites us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. When we exercise self-control, we exemplify the Fruit of the Spirit.

In social circles, religious and not, outrage always has the loudest voice in the room. Yet, gentleness is a Fruit of the Spirit. How did Jesus respond to a traitor, a denying coward, and a betraying backstabber? Gentleness.

At a time when we are inundated with daily uncertainty, it's no surprise that anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. Whether you have personally experienced the grip of a mental stronghold in your life, or know someone who has, it can be consuming. Yet, there is incredible hope and resilience in Jesus Christ.

What do you put your faith in? Where does your faith lie? The question of faith is not whether it exists but where it has been placed. Faith can be self-focused or Spirit-inspired. Let's choose to be led by the Spirit and allow our faith to be less and less about us.

Kindness may be displayed without faith. Goodness can be intentioned without kindness. The crossroads of our spiritual journey merges the intention of goodness with the action of kindness. When these two concepts align, the Kingdom advances and the cause of Christ is carried out.

Culture teaches us to expect and demand instant gratification, to receive the desires of our heart the moment that the seed of desire takes shape. God teaches us that patience develops our character and that the best lessons can be learned through waiting.