Our words carry immense power. Though small, the tongue can cause deep spiritual and relational harm. Our words can bring great destruction but they also hold the power to give life. When we surrender our speech to God in prayer and rely on His strength, our words can become instruments of healing, life, and blessing.

What if the way we treat others reveals more about our faith than we realize? James 2:1 reminds us that partiality is sin and a heart issue that distorts how we see people and where we believe blessing comes from. It causes us to seek approval from others instead of living for God’s glory. True freedom isn’t found in judgment but in mercy. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, favoritism fades and love takes its place.

When it comes to our faith, we can fall into the pattern of a tourist, thinking about God occasionally when it fits our schedule and captures our attention. But real faith, the kind that transforms our lives, requires obedience and commitment. And it’s in that surrender to God’s purposes for our lives, where we find true and lasting rest.

What comes to mind when you think of rest? We often associate rest with relaxation or time off, but are we truly resting? Real rest isn’t found in the absence of stress or fear, but in confident assurance trusting Jesus no matter what’s ahead. When we abide in Jesus, we move beyond striving and performance. In the surrender we find Jesus, and in Jesus we find rest.