”There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 GNT). In America, failure is almost the unpardonable sin. We idolize success. But that kind of pressure creates major stress on people. The fear of failure has many different faces. It can cause you to... Continue Reading →
How to Receive the Grace of God
For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17 NLT). In yesterday’s devotional we looked at 10 great benefits of God’s grace in our lives. As you read those benefits, you may have wondered how you can receive that grace in your life. It would be... Continue Reading →
Three Reasons God Says to Forgive Others
”For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV). It’s possible that you are carrying some deep wounds that you’ve carried for months, maybe even years. When you... Continue Reading →
Four Characteristics of Biblical Forgiveness
”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Biblical forgiveness is not a cheap term you just throw around that instantly makes everybody feel better. That’s not real forgiveness.The Bible says there are four characteristics to biblical forgiveness: Forgiveness is remembering how much you’ve... Continue Reading →
How to Receive the Grace to Keep Going through Troubles
”Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). What do you do when you can’t fix an unfixable problem? What do you do when you can’t solve an... Continue Reading →
God Never Plays Favorites
”[The promise] is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham” (Romans 4:16 NCV). God doesn’t play favorites—regardless of your background, your status, or your sin. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a religious person or a formerly religious person or if you... Continue Reading →
Choose Short-Term Pain for Long-term Gain
“[Moses] chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV). Yesterday we learned that, in order to be all that God wants us to be, we have to make this first resolution: “I resolve that I will no longer let other people press... Continue Reading →
Your Commitments Shape Your Life
“Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives we should be living!” (2 Peter 3:11 TLB). You don’t have to understand all the implications of your decision when you choose to follow Jesus. You simply need to respond to his invitation and make a commitment to follow him.Your commitments shape your... Continue Reading →
Your First Step of Discipleship
“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love — like Christ in everything” (Ephesians 4:15 The Message). God wants you to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14 Phillips).Your heavenly Father’s goal for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living... Continue Reading →
God Grows Us One Step at a Time
“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to — the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the... Continue Reading →
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