Jesus modeled a lifestyle of prayer for our benefit. It is our privilege to inquire of the Lord, as He did, for direction and breakthrough. Not only that, but God has given us authority over our own lives to pray His will into our environment to affect change in the lives of the people around us.

Church is what God is doing in the world. Jesus said, "I will build my church." We need to be involved in a local congregation of believers. If you are not, then you are out of God's will. God rewards us for bringing people into the church and discipling them. This is how the gospel is to be spread.

We have been crucified with Christ. The bible says sin has absolutely no power over us at all. We are not defined by our past sins, failures or shortcomings. We have already been crucified with Christ. The old man is dead. We have been made new. Our past does not equal our present or future.

Even though it may seem like things aren't moving forward in our lives as we would like, God is always at work in us. He is always working out things for our good. Angels are ministering on our behalf in the unseen world of faith. His work is being brought to completion in us. Our response is to partner with Him in faith and obedience.

God wants us to experience His goodness and freedom today. Many times, instead of focusing on our worship of God and relationship with Him today, we can get distracted by religious ideas about end-times and the negative state of things around us. The Word of God always points us, in the midst of troubling times, to worship God and experience Him in the here and now. This is the appropriate response for all believers regardless of political climate and world affairs.

Caleb "followed the Lord wholeheartedly." He actually believed God would do what He promised. We have that same spirit when we patiently take hold of God's promises and walk in them by faith.

Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He was "a man of a different spirit." He brought back a good report. He believed the promise of God when those around him were afraid. We who are under the new covenant are a people of a different spirit. We are to stay in the place of faith even when those around us are afraid and giving up.

It is vitally important that we use the Word of God like Jesus did when He was tempted. When we are being challenged by a circumstance we have to make sure we are feeding and encouraging ourselves with the Word.

Because of the favor of God, the early Christians had the admiration of those who were outside of the church. As believers we are to take advantage of that favor to win people to the Lord. We are to make the most of every opportunity.

It is important that we remember the great works the Lord has done in our lives. We keep them in our remembrance by talking about them. Talking about His great works helps to keep us in a place of expectancy, expecting God to continue His great works in our lives.