When we look back on our lives in playback mode, the most significant clips might not have been the happy times, but the moments we chose to be faithful to God even in the midst of trial and pain. The Bible tells story after story of people who stayed close to God and chose to obey Him no matter their circumstances -- and in return, God honored their faithfulness with His own.

We can only see a part of the work God's doing, but we have to trust that there are others who see the big picture. We'll never be able to lead well until we first learn to follow and obey. When we submit to the authorities God put over us within His Church, we're better able to work together as one Body -- the Body of Christ.

The Bible reminds us that we all have wicked hearts -- and that we all struggle with sin. Because God is a loving Father, He allows for us to experience the consequences of our sin in order for us to repent and submit to Him instead. And when we turn away from our sinful nature and turn to God instead, He produces fruit in our lives through the process.

Our time on earth is limited, and one day, it will run out. There's nothing we can do to change that, but we do have a choice in how we live the life we've been given. God created us to glorify Him, loving one another and proclaiming the Gospel. When we stand before Him one day, will we be able to give an account that we used our time wisely?

Ministry can be a draining endeavor, but it's worth it when we see lives transformed by the Gospel. We can find encouragement to press on in what God's called us to do when we see even one life changed. Not only that, but when those who have encouraged us see our own progress in our walk with Christ, we serve as an encouragement to them, too.

When it comes to fixing our problems or walking away from our sin, it's often easier said than done. But we're not alone when it comes to facing our greatest challenges. Jesus has given us His power, through the Holy Spirit, to overcome any obstacle we face.

Too many of us count on making important decisions or big changes tomorrow. But we're not promised tomorrow, and life can change in a single moment. There are no “almost” Christians in Heaven; if you hear Jesus’ voice calling you to follow Him, now's the time to say yes.

The devil has made no secret about his primary goal: to steal, kill, and destroy the life that God has for us. As believers, our salvation is already secured, but that doesn't mean the enemy has stopped attacking us. We have to be able to resist temptation, take up our cross, and follow Jesus in order to experience the abundant life He's promised us -- and nothing the world has to offer is worth settling for.

The Kingdom of God is a motley crew -- and knowing this, it's especially important for us to reach out to those around us whether they're similar to us or not. We may have our differences, but as believers, we all have one purpose: to fulfill the work of God. Let's pay attention to the hurting people around us so we can give them the same hope we have in Christ!

Living for God isn't a one-time decision -- it's an "every moment" decision that continues for a lifetime! The Christian life only begins when we give our lives to Christ, and it's continued in us and through us every day. We can't live it out by ourselves; that's why God designed the Church for us to do it together.