Regret will have you looking at yourself and feeling bad about it. Repentance turns your attention to the Lord.

God had a lot of people in the Bible do things that didn't fit the societal norm...so why do we seem to think He only wants us to operate within conventional wisdom, the realms of common sense, or what we believe to be possible and achievable under our own strength?

"Dreams?" you're probably thinking. "But those are good, right?"

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Worry has us "fretting" though we are commanded to "fret not." The Lord knows and has told us not to be anxious even about what we should eat or drink or wear - our most basic needs. We waste years being anxious about these things and more. 

Like the disciples in the boat when the storm came, we ask, "God, do you even care?"

It is very easy to begin relying on our earthly blessings when we have them...and really hard to let them go if it comes to it. But if the Lord asks us to give something up (as He did the rich young ruler), it's always because He knows we are trusting in something that will not satisfy. He isn't trying to be cruel and take away the things we love. He's trying to give us the ability to completely trust in Him - the only thing that will never disappoint!

Hurry isn't usually a good look. It often makes us rude and impatient - two qualities which are never of the Lord.

Laziness looks a LOT like distraction for me. I like to be busy...but sometimes I pick the things that don't stretch me instead of the tasks the Lord has put on my heart. From the outside, it still looks like I'm being resourceful, but inside I know I'm shirking the tough things!

Our world is so full of distractions. Some seem necessary, and some are simply frivolous, but they all fight for every moment of our attention. I've realized the only way to make the most out of days is to be attuned to the Holy Spirit and give God control of my time. I may not accomplish the things I thought I wanted to, but the days I do this are, without exception, the days I go to bed feeling at peace with what I did no matter how much is still on my to-do list.

Suffering isn't an easy topic. It was my hardest chapter to write. It took me eight tries and about 15,000 words to write a 3,000 word chapter.

I never have to worry if my hardship is going to waste. God WILL use it to good!

Sometimes, we fail so badly, we just give up. But I'm here to tell you, there is no "too badly" for Christ to redeem you.

Peter denied even knowing Christ after swearing he'd never do such a thing mere hours earlier. But Christ didn't give up on him, but reappeared in Peter's life, calling him back to a life in fellowship with the Savior.