Stop trying to find greener pastures or to move on from this hard place. While God has you here, dwell—settle into this place to learn and grow. God can bless you in the desert, in the wilderness, in prison, in exile, in a cave, in enemy territory, in a war zone, and in the valley. It doesn’t matter what life circumstance you’re in. 

Wisdom brings with it the gift of discretion, which is the ability to exercise well-measured judgment in our words and actions. In embracing wisdom, we learn to sift through what is undesirable and hold on to what is good.

The early years of striving slowly gave way to security and instead of being prone to worry, I started to experience the peace that bypassed understanding. Choices and decisions that often created division and chaos, gave way to clarity. Even troubling thought patterns were released to establish trust in the wisdom of God.

If there is anything I know from personal experience, it is the power of words to build up or put down. I want to be a life giver– a person who builds up, infuses life, hope, and courage into others. I want to speak words of life, and God’s words are life.

Isn’t it reassuring that while we are not attracted to needy, inconsistent, unreliable people to carry out our plans and purposes, Jesus is.

There is nothing like seeing your child grow into the person you prayed for them to be. It’s a beautiful thing when you have prayed and asked the Lord to grow them in wisdom and then you see them come into spiritual maturity and they are filled with the Spirit and words of truth.

Life piles up and I feel smothered under responsibilities because I have a very hard time asking for help. It is ridiculous and I know it and still I return to the same place and trip time and time again.

Are you having trouble hearing God’s voice in your life right now? “For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.” Job 33:14

If we know about the goodness of God, then it is our job to be messengers. If we have experienced His goodness in our lives, it is not enough to just be witnesses. It is our calling to proclaim His goodness.

I think many of us would like to go through life with more confidence. We turn to self-help books, podcasts, or our own instincts to find help growing our confidence. While some of these can be good and helpful things, they don’t provide the ultimate answer. Scripture does.

Jonah wanted mercy for himself but not Nineveh. He let God’s mercy on the people of Nineveh inflict deep misery on him. He was refusing to let God be God. We can experience rebellion, resistance, and resentment all because it’s not how we think God should deal with someone who is a problem to us.

Sometimes when God calls us to do something, it’s tempting to wait to move forward with it until we can see how all of the pieces will come together. However, God calls us to trust Him.

They couldn’t deny the evidence of His power—because they thought they knew Him, because they were not expecting this display of power or authority from the one they knew, because He was not what/who they recognized or accepted.

Jesus stood on the beach and knew right where they were, what they were doing, and that they had no fish. When life is disrupted and we are disappointed, He sees, He cares, He has a plan.

Your reaction and response to God’s word depends on your position. What have you determined or decided about the Word of God?

Unthankful and ungrateful attitudes and words create unbelief and undermine the power and authority of God's Word in your life.

I also want to note here that the apostle’s prayer was not a request to remove the pressure or persecution. Their prayer was to be made bold under this pressure and to be made willing to speak the Word with courage, commitment, and conviction. This is the part of the followers of Jesus. 

It is an issue of stewardship. God has given me His favor in giving me Christ. How am I responding to this? Am I receiving the favor given?

Calvary’s climb was grueling and gruesome. It cost Jesus His life and why would I think it should not cost me?