The world is full of generally-accepted beliefs that are completely countered by Scriptural truth. No matter how much we've been told something, or how fervently we want to believe it, the fact remains: if it doesn't match up with what the Bible tells us, it isn't true. Before we can engage in productive conversations in our world today, we have to first be grounded in the truth of God's Word.

The more we understand that it's only by God's grace that we're part of His family, the more humbled we feel. And with that humility comes a desire to share the Gospel message with others. As we draw closer to Jesus, we realize the diversity of all those whom He calls His children, and that we're all brought together in unity because of Him.

The Bible promises that we'll have trouble in this life. But God has a bigger plan for us -- and out of our mourning comes His glory. Only He can provide the kind of lasting joy that persists even when tragedy strikes. And when He puts that gladness in our hearts that those around us may not understand, nothing will be able to steal it from us.

It's all too easy for us to make judgments about other people when we're ignorant about their lives and their backgrounds. But that's not a justification for us to stay ignorant. Instead, let's seek to learn from and about others so we're better able to share the Gospel with them in ways they can understand.

If you are not for Christ, you're anti-Christ. Scripture makes it clear that there's a distinct line separating those who proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and those who don't. There's no room to be on the fence; either we live for Him, or we live against Him.

We all need encouragement. So why are we so reluctant to give it away? When we have an opportunity to build someone up, let's take it as a chance to encourage them and not worry that it'll give them a big ego. And when it comes to giving praises, let's start by praising our God for all He's done for us!

In order to "run the race" that Scripture talks about, we have to find our strength and source in Jesus. And before we can do that, we have to allow ourselves to receive God's free gift of grace. When we keep our eyes on Him and allow ourselves to be used for His glory, He equips us to run not just any race, but a winning race.

Scripture tells us that no matter how "good" a person thinks they are, we're each lost and adrift in this world. Regardless of our status or title in life, we're all shipwrecked and in need of a Savior. And while we're on this "island" of a temporary home called earth, we should be using our time to share the Good News so others can find rescue, too.

Men tend to find their value in their work -- and when they lose a job, they often lose their sense of value along with it. But when a man finds his identity in Christ, He can rest in the Lord's will for his life knowing God will take care of him no matter his work. Instead of trusting in earthly positions, let's put our trust in the Father who promises to sustain and carry us.

The Proverbs 31 woman is the kind of woman who works hard at the tasks God's given her -- but that can look like a lot of different things, depending on the season! When we become parents, it's important for us to learn to work around our kids, not make our kids work around our jobs. And if the Lord is laying on our hearts to stay home with our kids when they're little, it's equally important for us to obey His prompting because it's a season of life we'll never get back.