Digging Out of Discouragement

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” Ps. 42:5a

We all get discouraged from time to time. Life is just plain hard at times, whether this comes from troubled relationships, health issues, or merely the “hassles” of life such as mounting bills, a computer failure, or a cancelled flight. Sometimes we find ourselves discouraged, or even depressed, and not really know why. Our emotions can be a weird thing!

So, what do we do? How do we dig ourselves out of discouragement? Let me offer six suggestions:

1. Speak truth to your soul.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 42:11

When the psalmist says, “put your hope in God,” it is as if he is speaking truth to his soul – “come on soul, put your hope in God. You can do it.” I get the feeling this was an act of his will. He probably did not feel this inward excitement to trust God. After all, he already told us he was confused as to why his soul was downcast. He was discouraged and didn’t know why. However, as an act of his will he talked to himself. And he talked truth to himself.

There was a popular book years ago titled, “Telling Yourself the Truth.” This title says it all: we need to tell our self the truth when we are discouraged. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Speak to yourself the truth about God, your identity in Christ, forgiveness, life, heaven, etc. Do this until you feel different. I had a counselor tell me once, “Act your way into a new way of feeling.” This doesn’t mean you fake it and live a plastic life, but what it does mean is sometimes you have to will to do something that will help, even when you don’t feel like it.

2. Give thanks.

I realize this sounds like a cliché, but bear with me here. Recently our pastor introduced communion by sharing a neat insight on Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. The bible says, “On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus took break, and after giving thanks….”(1 Cor. 11:23). Did you catch that? He gave thanks on the night He was betrayed. When someone close to you betrays you, giving thanks is not the thing you naturally want to do. Yet, this is exactly what Jesus did. We are not told what He gave thanks for, but there is always something to thank God for, regardless of our circumstances or emotions. Therefore, make the choice to rejoice and put on an attitude of gratitude, especially when discouraged, and see what a difference it makes! “In all things give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18).

3. Dwell on God’s character.

Here is faith at its finest. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebr. 11:1). Focusing on God’s amazing attributes will get our eyes off our selves and onto the One who is most able to strengthen and help us. Give praise to God that He is eternal, strong, loving, faithful, gracious, unchanging, forgiving, and patient.

Notice in this Psalm how this is exactly what he does to encourage himself in the midst of being downcast: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan … “(Ps. 42:5). Be sure to remember God!

4. Fight the fight of faith.

Living for Christ is a battle. We fight with the world, the flesh, and the Devil. On top of that, we are aliens and strangers in a place that is not our true home. We can retreat or stand up and fight. I suggest it is time we make war! Ask God to give you a warrior spirit to fight against that besetting sin, anxiety, fear, and depression. Stand up and claim the victory that is rightfully yours. Don’t sit there and let Satan beat you up. Get up, receive God’s forgiveness, and move forward. Satan gets one victory if he can knock you down, but he gets a greater victory if you stay down. God is all about picking us up and encouraging us to get back on the field to finish the game. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12).

5. Ask others to pray.

One of the biggest temptations when discouraged is to isolate your self. We often don’t want to be around others. We want to be alone and sulk in our depression. But what we need to do is ask others to pray for us. Paul did this in 2 Cor. 1 when he said, “we were burdened beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life …. and you helped us by your prayers” (2 Cor. 1:8, 11). He opened himself up by talking about his pain, and as a result, others prayed, and he benefited from their prayers. Avail yourself of the power of prayer from others. God gives grace to the humble, and it takes humility to admit to others that you are in pain.

6. Take physical care of yourself.

The Bible does say to “love others as you love your self.” One way to properly, and not selfishly love your self, is to exercise and eat right. There is an unavoidable connection between our spirit, soul, and body. If you are seriously depressed, one of the first things you should do is schedule a physical with your doctor. There may be a chemical imbalance or other medical issues that need attention. I find it interesting that the way God dealt with Elijah’s discouragement was telling him to “get up and eat” (1 Kings 19:5).

Once again, it is normal to go through times of discouragement, doubt, and even depression. Living for Christ is not easy in the least. Do not beat yourself up for being downcast, but do take steps to dig out! God is the lifter of your head. He wants to help you in your time of need!

"Warrior Spirit" for God

Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about the need to develop more of a “warrior spirit.” A warrior spirit is when we make war on sin, Satan, the flesh, and anything that is ungodly in our lives. Too often we are passive in our walk with God. We go on the defensive by staying in our fort, with the hope that nothing negative will come our way. I find God’s Word calling us to live on the offensive. Besides, Jesus said He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against her (Mt. 16:18). Gates are for defense. Therefore, the church is to advance the mission of God against the gates of the kingdom of darkness. This may be what Jesus meant when he said “the kingdom of God has suffered violence but the violent take it by force” (Mt. 11:12). We are to be appropriately violent in our walk with God: violent against sin in our lives, violent against the attacks of Satan, violent against passivity, violent against injustice, violent against carnality, violent against ingratitude, violent against impure thoughts, violent against not reading God’s Word, violent against prayerlessness ….. but this violent action must be done in the energy of the Spirit and not the flesh: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10). “We are pulling down strongholds and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking captive every thought and making it obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5). May God grant us a warrior spirit for His glory.

If you get a chance, listen to the 6-minute video presentation of John Piper on this subject because he says it much better than me: http://wn.com/War_John_Piper_Sermon_Jam

The 29:29 File

Some times in life we have to "file things away" that we don’t totally understand, knowing that one day we will be able to open that file and understand it. This is true with simple things like our will, and even truer in our relationship with God.

Recently my wife and I had our wills redone, with the help of an attorney. I don’t totally understand all the legal language, but now that the wills are done, I have properly filed them away. One day in the future I may have to bring out the file, and then, with the help of an expert, I will be able to make sense of it all.

This is similar in our relationship with God. There will be some things in our journey with God that have to be filed away, knowing that in the future God will help us understand it all. I call this the 29:29 file. The 29:29 file is based on Deuteronomy 29:29 which says, “the secret things belong to the Lord, but the things revealed belong to man.” When I can’t make sense of something, I have to chalk it up as one of those “secret things” that God will reveal to me one day in the future, even if the day He reveals it to me ends up being in heaven.

The area of greatest perplexity and struggle for me is healing and death. Because Jesus performed so many acts of healing and God’s Word has many promises about prayer and healing, I believe God still heals today. I believe we are to boldly ask and believe God for healing when someone is sick. However, when you do this and a close friend dies, it can challenge your faith. When you see someone die of cancer at the age of 46 and leave behind a wife and two daughters, it can be hard to swallow. When you see someone in the prime of ministry taken from the mission field of life on earth, it can cause you to question, “Why?”

And yet, I have found that it isn’t fruitful to linger for long on the “why?” question. Some questions won’t be answered until we get to heaven because “now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). It is when the “why?” question is not answered that we need to file it in the 29:29 file. We do this by exercising faith in God’s sovereignty, goodness, and love (which the Bible repeatedly affirms) even when things happen that frustrate and disappoint us.

Someone wisely told me once, “Don’t doubt in the dark what God has clearly revealed in the light.” In other words, He has clearly revealed that He is in sovereign control (Mt. 5:45; Eph. 1:11), works all things together for good (Rom. 8:28), loves us with an inseparable love (Rom. 8:31-39), and uses tragedy and hardship to accomplish His purposes (Gen. 50:20) even when things happen that we do not understand or like.

What is it in your life that needs to be filed in the 29:29 file? It takes faith in God’s Word to do so, and when we do, He will give us supernatural peace and power to move on.

In Honor of Dr. Rick Campbell

Yesterday I attended the funeral of a good friend and colleague, Dr. Rick Campbell. I ministered with Rick at INJOY Stewardship Solutions, participated in a small group with him, and enjoyed a deep friendship.

The Bible says, “It is better to go to a funeral than a party, because death is the destiny of every man, and the living should take it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). So, what have I “taken to heart” as a result of going to Rick’s funeral? I take to heart three things:

1. Life is really short, so live it fully for Christ.
Rick was only forty-six years young. He was diagnosed with cancer less than a year ago. He left behind a wife of twenty-three years and two daughters, one in college and the other in high school. Forty-six is way too young to die. Forty-six means you don’t even outlive any sibling or parent. Forty-six means there is so much more you could have done, had you had more years.

God’s Word says our lives are but a vapor, a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Even if we live to be ninety or a hundred, in light of eternity this is still a very short period of time. Anyone with children knows how very quickly time passes.

I have often walked through a cemetery and reflected upon the degree to which anyone still remembers the deceased. Certainly those who have recently passed are remembered, but what about years later? It is very sobering to reflect on how little people will remember us a few years after we die . . . unless we invest in what is eternal.

What we do for Christ will indeed last. What we invest in the Word and the Gospel will last. Rick gave his life to Jesus and the things of His kingdom. Therefore, his impact will last for many generations, and even into eternity. His daughter spoke of how he led her to Christ. Pastors spoke of how he coached them. And friends shared of his joy and zest for life.

I led a discipleship group this year in which one of their assignments was to write their obituary. They were to write it to read they way they would want it to at the end of their life. One of the members of my discipleship group, after attending Rick’s funeral, texted me, “Rick’s funeral today is how I want my obituary to read.”

2. God is really faithful, so boldly step out in faith.
Rick’s deepest concern in dying of cancer was that his daughters might conclude that God was not faithful. I remember on many occasions Rick speaking of God’s faithfulness. He knew of God’s faithfulness financially, relationally, professionally, and even emotionally. It was this confidence in God’s faithfulness that led him to take some pretty bold steps in faith in his walk with God. The biggest of recent days was that of buying INJOY Stewardship Solutions. Before INJOY he had planted two churches, gone overseas, and was willing to move to new places to serve Christ.

I experienced Rick as a man who would rather step out of the boat, even if only to walk on water for a brief moment, than to never get out of the boat. This challenges me. I too often live a very safe life. I too often chicken-out when it comes to boldly sharing my faith. I too often sleep a little longer in the morning instead of getting up and meditating on the Word. With God’s help this is going to change . . . because of Rick!

3. Relationships are really important, so fully invest in people.
I carefully observed the slide show that preceded the funeral. As is almost always the case at a funeral, the pictures were not of Rick at his desk or Rick by himself or Rick with some physical project he had accomplished. Instead, they were pictures of Rick with family, with friends, and with pastors he served. It is all about relationships.

Next to our relationship with Jesus, life is simply about the relationships we have with others. This explains why Jesus said life is totally about “loving God with all our heart” and “loving our neighbor as our self.” So simple and yet so difficult at times to live out. So simple and yet often hindered by other “things.” So simple and yet so eternal.

So, as a result of being exposed to Rick’s rich life in Christ (even if only through this blog), live more for what is eternal; take more risks in the name of Christ, and love more richly those God has put in your life. And may God receive all the glory, and may your funeral be as full and biblical and eternal as Rick’s was yesterday.

True Brokenness

True brokenness is when God brings us to the end of ourselves . . . that we might learn to more fully lean on Him! Often this comes through very difficult circumstances that “break” us of self-dependence . . . that we might depend more fully on God. The circumstances are showing us how weak we really are, and how little we are in control of the universe.

The Apostle Paul experienced this through his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). He asked God to remove his thorn, and God said “NO,” so that he might experience spiritual strength through human weakness.

One thing I have often seen, particularly in men, is that God will bring them to brokenness, but once the circumstances start getting better they go back to pride and self-reliance. Therefore, I believe God wants our brokenness to be much more than just circumstantial brokenness. Instead, He wants us to live in constant brokenness.

Constant brokenness is when we are constantly aware of our weaknesses, human limitations, and propensity toward sin that we walk in constant awareness of our desperate need for God. Even when the initial circumstantial difficulty is lifted, we still walk in brokenness. Less in less do we need circumstantial difficulty to make us dependent on God’s power.

However, when the circumstantial difficulty does come our way, by the sovereign decree of God, then we will be able to say with Paul, “That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

The Proverbs Challenge

This is a very practical and helpful exercise to do when faced with uncertainly about a decision.

Here is how the Proverbs’ Challenge works: whenever you are faced with a major decision, read through the entire book of Proverbs and ask God to give you a “word of wisdom” in what to do. Preferably read the entire book of Proverbs in one sitting. For the average reader this takes about two hours or less. Before you begin to read, ask God to give you wisdom and fill you with His Spirit. Draw a line down the middle of a page, with the choices of your decision on either side (i.e., take the new job, stay where I am).

As you read through Proverbs, record in the appropriate column the verses that seem to speak to you about that choice. Now, be careful here: at the end of your reading, it does not mean that the column with the most verses is God’s “word” to you. Instead, go back and read all the verses you placed in each column and ask God to have one of them “jump off the page” telling you what His will is for you.

I have done this seven times in my life, and all but one time God has used it to speak a direct word of wisdom to me. I look forward to hearing how He uses this in your life. Please let me know by emailing me at davidholt08@gmail.com.

Spiritual Lessons from a Physical Hike

Recently I completed a thirty-mile hike on the Appalachian Trial (AT) with my twenty-year old daughter, Catherine. The AT is a 2,175 mile trail that runs from Georgia to Maine over mountains, hills, beautiful streams, and fourteen states. My father has hiked the entire trail; I have now completed 227 miles; and this was Catherine’s first time hiking the AT. I have not hiked the AT in over seven years, thus forgetting how difficult and tiring it is. However, I see many parallels between a hike like this and the Christian journey. I will give nine ways in which hiking the AT is like our walk with God:

1. Don’t hike alone. It is much more enjoyable with someone else. The first day of our hike, Catherine and I met a young woman who was hiking alone. I asked her if she had it to do all over again, what would she do different, and she responded, “I would find someone to hike with me.” God made us to need others, and our maturity in Him will be greatly enhanced as we are in intimate fellowship with others. “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more, as you see the Day approaching” (Hebr. 10:24-25). “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

2. Progress takes perseverance. To make progress on a hike, and especially to get to the places of excellent views, requires hard work and perseverance. There were many times on this hike when I wanted to give up. I got tired, had sore feet, and a few times wondered when the top of the mountain would ever come. But once I made it to the top and looked out on the magnificent view, it was all worth it! In the same way, spiritual maturity takes prayer, Bible meditation, resisting temptation, obedience, and keeping on keeping on! “Do not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

3. Always have a weapon. For this hike I carried a gun, and I did so for several reasons: snakes are not uncommon on the trail; there were reports of a bear that had torn into five hikers’ packs within the past few weeks; and there have been a few killings on the trail over the years. I felt much safer having a 40 caliber Glock strapped to my side. In our walk with God, we face a variety of oppositions as well, namely the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Therefore, we should always have in our heart the weapon of God’s Word, and be sure to put on the full armor of God each day. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11).

4. See people’s needs along the way. One thing I enjoy about hiking is the many interesting people you meet. On this particular hike, we encountered some heavy situations. One man told me he was hiking because his wife had just informed him she wanted a separation. Another man told me of how he had come back early from serving the Army in Panama, only to find another man living with his wife. Then his second marriage ended because his wife did not want to live with a man who kept getting deployed. He was now in his third marriage. Oh, how our world is full of hurting people. They are all around us, every day, if we just take the time to be interested in peoples’ lives . . . and listen to their stories. The song I hear on Christian radio challenges me: “Give me Your eyes for just one second. Give me Your eyes that I might see . . . "

5. Take breaks to rest and enjoy the journey. Some hikers are so intense about making the miles each day, they forget to stop and “smell the roses.” I made sure to notice the plants, flowers, smells, and views. I even took pictures of small flowers along the path. Catherine and I had no problem stopping and resting when we needed it, because we often got tired. Catherine developed nine blisters on her two feet. Ouch! I am now forty-nine years old, and felt every bit of my age on this hike. I have no problem admitting my need for rest. God wants us to rest in our walk with Him. We need to schedule into our lives those things that will help to recharge us. Jesus said, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).

6. Follow the map. We had an excellent map showing us where to find water, the locations of shelters, and the exact mileage to various points of interest. As long as we stuck to the map, we did fine. Had we taken a side trail, we could have gotten lost. In the same way, following Christ means we must follow the map of God’s Word. His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps. 119:105). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

7. Make good use of water. This hike reminded me of how important water is to life. We needed water to drink, bathe ourselves, cook our food, and wash our clothes. A pure flowing mountain stream was like pure gold to us on the trail! One night we were able to camp right by a beautiful stream. Therefore, we pretty much had everything we needed! It is no surprise that Jesus calls Himself the living water. We need Him for everything! Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘streams of living water will flow from within him’” (Jn. 7:37).

8. Do your part and trust God’s sovereignty. We certainly had to prepare our packs, plan well, bring the right supplies, etc. but at the end of the day, we chose to rest in God’s sovereignty over the weather, the bears, our bodies, and the people we came in contact with. In the same way, with God we do our part (i.e., obey, trust, pray, witness, etc.), and we rest in His sovereign control. Being a strong Calvinist (which I am!) is not only biblically sound, but immensely practical. We can trust that everything entering our life has first been sifted through the loving and sovereign will of God. “The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs His steps” (Prov. 16:9; NASB). “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).

9. Keep the goal before you. Our goal was to make it from Springer Mountain, GA to Neels Gap, GA—thirty miles. Having this goal made our progress more enjoyable and our destination more anticipated. As our bodies got more tired, our minds were hopeful as we got closer and closer to the end. Finally, when we reached Neels gap and the little store where we could buy some goodies, we were quite excited. In the same way, God wants us to look forward to our final destination and reward of heaven. What a great destination we have to look forward to. No amount of suffering or hardship on earth is ultimately comparable to eternity with God in heaven. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the eternal glory that will be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). God wants us to live with an eternal perspective, fixing our eyes on Jesus, for whom one day we will see face to face!

Catherine, the best part of the hike for me was being with you! You are great company and an amazingly tough hiker. I love being your dad and friend.

Consequences of a moral fall … for teens by Dr. David Holt & Lisa Grant

Recently I (David) put Randy Alcorn’s article from an old Leadership magazine titled “Consequences of a Moral Fall” on my blog. In this article, Alcorn gives a long list of possible consequences if he were to have an affair. He said he found it helpful to review this list any time he felt particularly vulnerable or tempted to sin.

After reading my blog, Lisa Grant (who has her own blog for parents of teens) asked if I knew of such a list for teens who struggle with sexual temptation. I told her I did not, but we should come up with one together. Thus, this blog that Lisa and I are writing together.

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Every day, teens must manage the transition from childhood impulsivity to adult self-control. Raging hormones and societal or peer pressure only add fuel to the fire in the area of sexual temptation.

When I (Lisa) counsel young Christian women, I advise them to develop a list of standards before they begin dating. This might include situations to avoid, how far they will go, and how they plan to keep themselves accountable. The list below would be additionally helpful to carry on a date, serving as reminders of the potential fallout of giving in to temptation.

CONSQUENCES OF SEXUAL SIN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
If I have premarital sex or go too far with someone, here are some possible consequences of that act:

1. Possible pregnancy and all the responsibilities that come with having a child, as well as possibly affecting my future education and career.
2. Experiencing a guilty conscience.
3. Weight of responsibility for causing another to sin.
4. Having a difficult time erasing the sin from my memory. God forgives and forgets my sin, but I will never forget.
5. Developing a “soul tie” (an unhealthy emotional and spiritual attachment) with the person I am intimate with. It’s like giving away a piece of my heart, and I will never get it back.
6. The danger of giving myself to someone who has not made a life-long commitment to me.
7. Probably needing to tell my future spouse at the time of engagement and the embarrassment that comes from this.
8. The possibility of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, which, if not cured, could be passed on to anyone else I have relations with, including my future spouse. Remember, when I have sex with someone, it is as if I am having sex with everyone they have had sex with.
9. The loss of a special wedding night.
10. Once married, the regret that I was with someone other than my spouse.
11. The poor example and possible cause of hindrance to all my friends who learn about this. There may even be a loss of friendships.
12. Causing disappointment and shame to my parents, as well as loss of trust.
13. Damaging my credibility with younger siblings or others who look up to me.
14. Loss of dignity and regard for self.
15. Most importantly, it will hinder my relationship with God – as all sin does.

Let us be very clear - if you have already fallen into sexual sin, there is forgiveness and healing available through the blood of Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, can cleanse at the deepest level. “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse of all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “He who conceals his sin shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

There will still be consequences for your sin, but your relationship with God can be fully restored, and you can be given a fresh start. Often, it is additionally helpful to share your struggle with a trusted friend who can help you through the healing process. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

Finally, as you seek to move beyond your sin, remember that you cannot do it in your own power. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit each and every day if you want to live in obedience to God and resist the many temptations that will come your way.

May God bless you as you remain in the one true love, the love of Jesus Christ.

Batteries Included

I wonder how many frustrated parents assembled some special toy for their child this Christmas, only to discover “batteries not included”? To have the shell without the power to run the device is quite irritating. No toy should be sold without the batteries to run it, wouldn’t you agree?

Well, praise God that salvation comes with “Batteries Included”! You know what I am talking about – the power of the Holy Spirit. When we repent and trust Christ for salvation, the batteries are included because we immediately receive the person of the Holy Spirit. He comes to indwell our lives! “If you have not the Spirit of Christ, you have not Christ” (Romans 8:9).

For a Christmas toy, the batteries serve two important functions. First, they enable the toy to do what it was created to do. Without the batteries, the toy is lifeless. Second, the batteries empower the toy. They give it energy and power to fulfill its everyday function.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit gives us life. The Holy Spirit brings us to salvation. The Spirit convicts us of sin, enables us to repent, and gives us the faith to receive Christ. At salvation, the Spirit enables us to begin our purpose for which we were created – to know God and make Him known.

Furthermore, once we are in relationship with God, the Holy Spirit empowers us. He lives through us. He directs us. He gives us the strength to do God’s will. He works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Apart from Christ’s indwelling presence through the Spirit, we can do nothing of any eternal value.

Praise God the batteries are included! Just be sure to keep them charged!

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17

Lessons From Tiger Woods

In light of the recent tragedy in the life of Tiger Woods, I want to include on my blog something I read several years ago that really spoke to me. It was written by former pastor and author, Randy Alcorn. It was first published as an article in Leadership Magazine.

He simply shares the many possible consequences if he fell into sexual sin. It is good for us to remind ourselves of what “could happen” if we gave into temptation.

Satan is very crafty. He only wants us to see the immediate gratification in sin. He wants to blind us to what is on the other side of sin. Let us seek to live holy lives, and thus experience the great joy and peace that comes from staying in God’s will!

Consequences of a Moral Tumble

By Randy Alcorn

“Whenever I feel particularly vulnerable to sexual temptation, I find it helpful to review what effects my action could have:

• Grieving the Lord who redeemed me.
• Dragging His sacred name into the mud.
• One day having to look Jesus, the Righteous Judge, in the face and give an account of my actions.
• Following in the footsteps of these people who immorality forfeited their ministries and cause me to shudder: (list names)
• Inflicting untold hurt on Nanci, my best friend and loyal wife.
• Losing Nanci’s respect and trust.
• Hurting my beloved daughters, Karina and Angie.
• Destroying my example and credibility with my children, and nullifying both present and future efforts to teach them to obey God (“Why listen to a man who betrayed Mom and us?”).
• If my blindness should continue or my wife be unable to forgive, perhaps losing my wife and my children forever.
• Causing shame to my family (“Why isn’t Daddy a pastor anymore?”).
• Losing self-respect.
• Creating a form of guilt awfully hard to shake. Even though God would forgive me, would I forgive myself?
• Forming memories and flashbacks that could plague future ministry with my wife.
• Wasting years of ministry training and experience for a long time, maybe permanently.
• Forfeiting the effect of years of witnessing to my father and reinforcing his distrust for ministers that has only begun to soften by my example but that would harden, perhaps permanently, because of my immorality.
• Undermining the faithful example and hard work of other Christians in our community.
• Bringing great pleasure to Satan, the enemy of God and all that is good.
• Heaping judgment and endless difficulty on the person with whom I committed adultery.
• Possibly bearing the physical consequences of such diseases as gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, herpes, and AIDS; perhaps infecting Nanci or, in the case of AIDS, even causing her death.
• Possibly causing pregnancy, with the personal and financial implications, including a lifelong reminder of my sin.
• Bringing shame and hurt to these fellow pastors and elders: (list names).
• Causing shame and hurt to these friends, especially those I’ve led to Christ and discipled: (list names).
• Invoking shame and life-long embarrassment upon myself.”[i]

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[i] Randy Alcorn, “Consequences of a Moral Tumble,” Leadership Journal Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter 1988: p. 25.

Why We Should Give Thanks

The bible has a lot to say about giving thanks. During this Thanksgiving season, I want to offer four reasons why we should give thanks.

1. God commands us to give thanks. "In all thing, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18). We often hear people ask, "How do I know God's will?" Well, we know God's will on this issue - it is His will that we give thanks. Therefore, when we are thankful we can know we are doing God's will.

2. God is deserving of our thanks. The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (Jas. 1:17). Every good thing in our life is ultimately a gift from God. Therefore, He deserves our thanks for all He has done for us.

3. Thanks does us good. We all know how giving thanks helps to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto what is important. It is too easy to focus on things in our life that we do not like, circumstances that are difficult, or other struggles we are having. However, when we make the choice to rejoice and assume the attitude of gratitude, it actually serves to change our emotions for the better.

4. Giving thanks is contagious. When we have a thankful attitude, it spreads to others and can sometimes cause the complainer around us to stop! Wouldn't that be something! Better yet, people like to be around others who are positive.

So, this Thanksgiving (and every day for that matter), let's be a thankful people. For those who are followers of Christ, the most important thing to be thankful for is salvation in Jesus!

Facing Disappointments in Life

Life is full of disappointments. We all have expectations that are not met, whether it be in our jobs, health, churches, marriage, finances, or even relationship with God.

Jesus experienced disappointment. He was certainly disappointed with the religious leaders of the day for how they were leading people astray. In addition, we see Jesus on numerous occasions being disappointed with His disciples ("how long shall I put up with you?").

Perhaps one of the reasons Jesus often got away to spend time with His Father was to release those disappointments and to get His Father's perspective.

One of the greatest challenges of disappointment is how it often leads to anger and potential bitterness toward others. Now the Bible says to be angry ... but to sin not. Jesus was angry in the temple because of His disappointment over how they were using the temple for financial gain instead of worship. His anger was righteous anger; however, most of ours is not. Most of our anger is due to selfishness.

Another challenging component of disappointment is whether or not to tell the person toward whom we are disappointed. Will this help this situation or make it worse? Is the disappointment justified or due to pride and selfishness? Are we the vessel to confront the other or is God wanting to teach us a deeper level of dependence on Him or 1 Cor. 13 love? These are all very difficult questions to answer and take a deep work of the Holy Spirit to show us the true answer.

Most of my blogs I try to give answers. On this one I am simply posing the dilemma and challenging us all to seek the Lord for answers. Feel free to share with me in the comments section below your thoughts on this and what God has taught you.

"Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and besides Thee I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalms 73).

"My soul finds rest in God alone ... Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge" (Psalms 62:1, 8).

Is 100% Required?

Does God really expect us to commit 100% to Him? Isn’t it good enough to just go to church faithfully and try hard to live a good life? Cannot God be an important part of our life without actually being the center of everything? Isn’t it a bit extreme to think about God in all we do? These are great questions, and the Bible has answers.

Let’s examine God’s Word and discover whether or not God wants us to be 100% committed to Him.

“He is the image of the invisible God … He is before all things and in Him all things hold together … He is the beginning, and firstborn from among the dead so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:17; NASB)

“And you shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Mark 12:30)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart … in all your ways acknowledge Him” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Trust in Him at all times” (Psalms 62:8).

“I wish you were either hot or cold … because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15).

I think you can see from these passages that God does expect us to give 100% to Him. Being a follower of Jesus means that we seek to grow in our commitment and loyalty to Him. It means we put Jesus at the center and have everything revolve around Him.

Obviously maturity takes time. Certainly we never feel as though we are giving God 100% of our life. But this does not change the fact that total allegiance to Christ is what we should go after – 100% commitment, 100% heart devotion, lordship of thoughts, surrender of all our possessions, etc., etc.

100% only seems radical when you don’t understand who God is and all that Christ has done for us.

In conclusion, here are 6 reasons why God deserves our 100%:
1. He is God and has a divine right over our lives.
2. He created us and knows what is best for us.
3. Without Him we would be nothing.
4. Jesus gave His all for us.
5. In giving God 100%, we find the greatest fulfillment and joy in life.
6. Living all out for God is the most eternal thing we can do.

May God bless you as you seek to live totally devoted to Him! Let’s not settle for anything less than 100%!

Lessons From a Tragic Death

This week has not been easy. I learned on Monday that the receptionist at my chiropractor’s office committed suicide. She was only 46 years old. I knew she struggled with severe depression, and on several occasions had called me in desperation. When I learned of her death, I had all the emotions of a tragic death: shock, unbelief, sadness, sorrow, confusion, and even anger.

Suicide is a terrible thing. Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, gets a tragic victory when one takes his/her life.

Here are some lessons from this tragic death:

1. There are many hurting people in the world, and they are right next to us every day.

Few people would have known that this woman struggled with severe depression. For the most part, she was able to cover it up and be quite pleasant in the office. This just shows that behind every smile can be great pain. Oh Lord, give us the ability to see the pain in those around us, so that we might be a “sweet aroma of the knowledge of You in every place” (2 Cor. 2:14).

2. God cares about the pain we experience, and He can help all who call upon Him.

I am so thankful that God is merciful and compassionate. He is near to all who call upon Him in truth. Jesus said, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If you are hurting in any way, call out to God, and allow His healing power to transform you. He is able, more than able, to accomplish a new and fresh work in your life.

3. The body of Christ is there to help us, and we must be willing to receive that help.

I made numerous offers to this woman to get into a special women’s group we have at church, but she did not. I know of others who encouraged her to get counseling. Unfortunately, she tried to make it alone. As hard as it can be to avail ourselves of others’ help, we must do it. God calls us to live in community, to be transparent, and to allow others to help us when we are in need. Often it is pride that keeps us from sharing our needs with others. God’s Word says to “bear one another’s burden” (Gal. 6:1).

4. Life is so short, and we have the privilege of living for what is eternal.

The Bible says, “It is better to go to a funeral than a party, for death is the destiny of every man, and the living should take it to heart” (Eccl. 7:3). Every time I attend a funeral (as I did this week), it is a fresh reminder of how brief our lives on earth really are. May God stamp eternity on our eyes, so that we live for what really matters most. And what really matters most is the things of God.

Be Sure to Spiritually AIM

This week I have been intrigued with a simple little phrase out of the book of Nehemiah: “Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king” (2:4).

The context of this passage is Nehemiah sharing with the king his concern over the broken wall in Jerusalem. After sharing his concern, the king asked Nehemiah, “What is it that you want” (2:4a)? Before just responding from his flesh, Nehemiah prays to insure that he answers from the Spirit. I love this. To me, this is a great model of what it means to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16).

Too often I do things in the flesh. If I was Nehemiah I would have been so excited that the king asked me that question I would have quickly said, “Let me go and rebuild the wall in Jerusalem.” I would have taken off on my own and not even thought to ask for help, as Nehemiah did … after he prayed. By praying before speaking, Nehemiah was given wisdom from Above to ask the king for all kinds of help – which by the way, he received. The king gave him safe passage, resources to use in building, and even officers and cavalry (see 2:6-9)!

This reminds me of Jesus’ ministry motto: “I do nothing of my own initiative, but only what I see the Father doing” (Jn. 5:19). Jesus made sure what He did was led by the Father. This is why we see Jesus breaking away so often to pray. He made sure He was in tune with His Father in what He did.

I need to become more like Jesus in this aspect of life and ministry. I am typically a “ready, fire, aim” kind of person. My growing edge is to take time to “aim.” The best way to spiritually “aim” is to A – acknowledge God, B- be sure to pray and ask God what He wants, and C – carry out what you sense God leading you to say or do.

Oh that we might all grow in being led by the Spirit … hear God’s voice … sense His direction … and boldly step out in faith!

One Day in DC

Today I had the privilege of visiting a few significant places in Washington, D.C. – the WW2 Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, and the Capitol.

I have some strong feelings as I reflect on my visits today:
1. We live in a great country.
I am so thankful to live in a country where we can travel freely, pursue our dreams, and worship as we chose. There is no doubt God’s hand has been on this country.

2. It is important to remember the past.
I love history, and I love the rich history of this country. Lessons abound in history – both good and bad. Each of the monuments and museums in Washington are filled with lessons. We must learn from the past and seek to be vessels of godliness for the future.

3. Freedom always has a price tag.
Freedom is never free. Our national freedom has been paid for with the blood of many soldiers. At the WW2 Memorial there is an inscription, “The Price of Freedom.” Behind it are 4,000 gold stars representing the 400,000 American soldiers who gave their lives in that war. As I observed this part of the memorial, I was reminded that Jesus gave His life to purchase our freedom from sin, Satan, and slavery.

4. The capacity for evil is great in the sinful heart of man.
What Hitler and others did in seeking to exterminate the Jews is horrific. The pictures, videos, and descriptions of human suffering at the Holocaust Museum make your mind ponder, your stomach turn, and your heart grieve. During my entire visit I kept thinking of the verse, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it (Jer. 17:9?” The only cure for this sinful condition is the blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit to change a person from the inside out.

5. Though our country is not perfect, we have been a huge force for good in the world.
Despite the heaviness of going through the Holocaust Museum, I left proud of my country in helping to bring an end to WW2 and the Nazi atrocities. If it were not for the Allied forces, who knows what else Hitler would have done. Furthermore, our history is rich with Christian influence and the greatness of democracy.

6. Biblical Christianity has played an enormous part in shaping our history.
Everyone you go in Washington there is evidence of the enormous influence of the Bible and Christianity on this great country. Just today I saw scripture on every wall in a certain room at the Holocaust Museum, as well as paintings in the Capitol rotunda of the baptism of Pochohontas and the Pilgrims arriving with Bible in hand.

I love days like this – rich in thought, deep in emotion, and motivation for the will.

I desire to be a history-maker, but not for my glory or fame. Instead, I want my mark to be eternal for the glory of God.

Let’s give our all for Jesus in the few years we have on earth!

Biblical Principles of Financial Stewardship

1 Chronicles 28-29 provides us with some amazing principles of financial stewardship. I love this passage and used it as my guide in leading my former church in four capital campaigns. "Raising money" can often be seen as a necessary negative of ministry; however, I have come to see financial needs as a wonderful opportunity for a church to experience God in tangible ways. This can be accomplished by following these biblical principles:

1. Humility ("my son, Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced" - 29:1. Humble dependence on God is the first and most important principle. Experience is not what God is after, but rather a heart that is totally dependent upon Him. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and we certainly need His grace when it comes to a capital campaign. Are you walking in humility?

2. Vision ("I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark" - 28:2). Vision is affected by the past, rooted in the present, with a picture of the future. King David had this vision for the Temple. God put this vision in his heart. Though he was not the one to actually see it fulfilled, God still used David in the process. What is your vision? Put it on paper and share it with others.

3. Purity ("The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man, but for the Lord God" - 29:1). David's vision was pure in that he wanted something for God's glory. It is very easy for a building project or capital campaign to be for the glory of the pastor. We must have no part in such endeavors. Instead, we must pursue a vision that is truly for the Lord's glory! Is your vision for God's glory?

4. Sacrifice ("With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God" - 29:2). David personally invested in this project. He did not call others to do anything that he was not personally willing to do. Each time our church did a capital campaign, I had to personally sacrifice. During one campaign the Lord directed Dede and me to give three months salary for three years to the campaign. Therefore, I signed over every paycheck for the months of October, November, and December (for three years) to our campaign. To this day, there is no explanation but God for how we made it during those three years. I love this definition of sacrifice: "Giving up something you value for something you value more!" Pastor, ask God what He would have you commit to the campaign, and then wait expectantly for His provision and power.

5. Leadership ("then the leaders ... gave toward the work" - 29:6-7). Because of David's example, the leaders gave sacrificially. If you are in leadership, ask God what he would have you do. Your example is crucial to the overall success of the campaign. Lead by example, and as you experience God in your sacrificial giving, be willing to share your story with others. Testimonies are so powerful in a campaign.

6. Participation ("The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders ... And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you" - 29:9, 17). What a great progression we see here: David gave, leaders gave, and now the people follow suite. This is the way it usually works. The congregation will follow the example of their leaders. Notice also the joyful and willing participation. This is because of our next principle:

7. Lordship ("we have given only what comes from Your hand" - 29:14). The essence of stewardship is lordship. When we truly believe that all we have is God's, then we are willing to offer it freely to the Lord. We are merely managers (i.e. stewards) of what God owns. It is not mine. If God says, "Give back to me ___", then we must give back to Him what He says. Pray and obey is a great theme to have in a capital campaign. If everyone prays and obeys what God's says, then whatever God wants to provide will be there! Is Jesus lord of your life? Of your money?

8. Eternal Perspective ("We are aliens and strangers in Your sight ... our days on earth are like a shadow" - 29:15). A huge piece of stewardship for me is having an eternal perspective. What is really going to last? I want to invest my time, money, and possessions in that which will last forever. Giving to kingdom ministry is an eternal investment, and will yield eternal fruit and rewards.

What a privilege to give toward a capital campaign that is for the glory of God and rooted in biblical principles! I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

What Have I Learned Since High School?

Last night was my 30-year high school reunion. Wow - that is enough to make you feel real old! The planning committee asked me to share a brief message at the main event. I was extremely honored to be asked to do this; however, it was very much out of my comfort zone to do so. I was more uncomfortable doing this than any sermon I have preached. Therefore, much prayer went into it. I had two goals: to not be preaching and to keep it way under the 20 minutes they gave me. It was actually about 12 minutes and here is what I shared:

It is a great privilege to be here tonight and share a few thoughts with you.

I want to introduce my wife of 23 years, Dede …. we have 4 children and just moved back to GA after 18 years in the frigid state of WI. Someone put on Facebook yesterday that they wanted to put up Christmas decorations because it was getting cool – it is not cool in GA right now.

I don’t know about you, but isn’t it kind of weird to come to an event like this? I mean, it makes you feel old. I told some people this week I was coming to my 30 year high school reunion they said, “Dude, you are old!” Thanks a lot!

Here is what will make you feel old, do you know how much a gallon of gas costs in 1961? 31 cents; and a postage stamp? 4 cents

But as weird as it might be to come to a reunion like this, these kind of events are actually good for us, because they make us reflect on our lives and hopefully consider what is most important, so what I want to do tonight is share with you:

The 4 Most Important Things I Have Learned Since High School. This first is this:
1. Time Flies.

It seems like yesterday that Mike Bush had the big club hand and the spirit stick was being fought for!

You know the country song “Don’t blink”? We’ll; we blinked, and all of sudden we are nearing 50 years old, some of us have kids in college, and some are even grandparents. By the way, how many grandparents do we have?

Billy Graham was interviewed recently on CNN and they asked him what is one of the most important lessons you have learned, and he said, “The swift passage of time.”

Time flies. Life is so short.

I have a sobering habit of reading the obituaries and I am amazed how often I see people who are 18, 26, 40, or my age: 48. I read the obituaries to remind me of how short life is.

Even tonight we have remembered those from our class who have already died. None of us are guaranteed another day!

The 2nd thing I have learned is this:
2. Life can be painful.

As a pastor I come in contact with pain on a regular basis. I have done the funeral for small children, even infants, seen a good friend die at 40 from bone cancer; just this week one of my best friends’ divorce was final, and in about a month I will see my wife’s brother go back to Iraq for the 3rd time and he is scheduled to leave one week after his 2nd child is due.

Many of you here have probably been through or are going through some serious health issues, the death of someone close, divorce, cancer, depression, anxiety, or any other number of painful situations.

Well it was Jesus said, “in this world you will have much tribulation…” I like the way Jesus always tells the truth.

And those painful situations will either make us better or bitter, and I have sure seen both. I have seen people get bitter through pain and then try to cover it up with all kinds of things that end up being very harmful and sometimes addictive.

And I have also seen others get better through pain. And these are the ones who are amazing agents of help to others who are hurting. Mike Broom, you are one of those people. I cannot imagine the pain you had in losing Beth.

The 3rd thing I have learned is:
3. Success is not determined by what you have.

Our culture often tells us you measure success by the title you have, your position in the company, or the toys you own.

It’s like the person who said he spent his whole life climbing up the ladder, only to realize at the end it was leaning against the wrong wall.

The problem with living for material things is that you can’t buy happiness and it is all so temporary, it can be gone in a moment, and ultimately when you die, you can’t take it with you. I have never been to a funeral where a U-Haul followed the Hearst.

The family of John D. Rockefeller was asked when he died, “How much did he leave?” And they said, “All of it.”

The 4th thing I have learned and this one is by far the most important and makes a huge difference in the other 3, and that is this:
4. God is real and He wants us to know Him.

Some of you might be thinking, “Now don’t get religious on me.” Trust me, this is not religion, but rather a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and there is a huge difference.

I have had the privilege to traveling to the Holy Land twice and to Greece where so many biblical events occurred, and it is incredible to see firsthand the accuracy of the bible and tangible proof for the historicity of Jesus.

I did not become a Christian until our senior year at Clarkston, largely due to the influence of a Bible Study held in the home of Rene Walker Harris. Thanks Rene. And I can tell you Jesus Christ has made such a difference in my life – to give me purpose and joy.

So as I wrap it up, I want to go back to the first three lessons and show how God can be real in each of those:

1. I mentioned that Time flies and our lives are so short here on earth,
But when you are a follower of Christ, He promises you eternal life and your life here on earth can be lived with an eternal perspective, so that whether you live to be 14, 48 or 90 your life can make a difference for all eternity.

I love that scene in the movie the Dead Poets’ Society where Robin Williams takes the students to the trophy case and shows them the picture of past athletes and heroes, and he says, “Look in their eyes; think back to what it must have been like for them – so young with the world before them, but now their bodies are being eaten by worms.” And then he gave hem this challenge: “carpe diem. Seize the day.”

And our lives are so short that we must seize the day, and live for what really matters – God matters the most.

2. Life can be painful but God wants to be there in the midst of our pain to help us through it.

We never know what life may throw us, which is why we need One who is bigger than life.

It is often through pain that we can experience God the most. C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain…. Pain is God’s megaphone.”

The Bible says, “Caste all your care on Him, for He cares for you.”

God wants you to get closer to Him through your pain and then be able to help others in their pain.

Earlier I quoted Jesus when He said, “In this world you will have tribulation” and the second part of that verse is, “but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

3. Success is not about what you have but rather it’s about who you know.

It’s all about relationships – with God and others. That’s what matters the most, and not how big our house is or the car we drive.

This is why Jesus said the 2 greatest commandments are to love the Lord with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.

I love that scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life” when George Bailey opens the book the angel left him and written inside was this message: “He is not poor who has friends.”

That is why events like this are so good, because they help us deepen relationships.

Not to be morbid, but who will come to your funeral and what will they say? Will they have to lie or will there be a long line to get to the microphone and talk about how your life impacted them and made a difference?

Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

I don’t want any of you to forfeit your soul!!!! So I want to end with some really good news; our world is filled with bad news, but here is the best news ever given to human beings:

Jn. 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever trusts in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Jer. 29: 11-13 “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope, and you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

I pray that God will reveal Himself to each one of you! Thank you!

What Has Helped Me Grow in the Lord?

This past Sunday our Sr. Pastor preached on the 7 things that have helped him grow the most. It was a great message. It got me thinking about what has helped me grow spiritually. Here is my list of 7:

1. Time Alone With God - Nothing has helped my relationship more than spending daily time alone with God. The best way to grow close to another person is to spend time with them. This is most true about our walk with God. I am amazed that even Jesus, who had an eternity of fellowship with the Father built up before coming to earth, still took time on a regular basis to pray and be alone with His Father. This one will always be #1 for me.

2. Small Group - This has been huge for me. All of my Christian life I have been in a small group, especially an accountability group with other men. "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27:17). God made us to need others in our walk with Him. I don't know where I would be today without my "Iron Man" group in Wisconsin and my current men's group on Georgia. I desperately need others to hold up my arms when they get weak. Howard Hendricks once said, "A man who doesn't meet with other men for encouragement and accountability is an accident waiting to happen."

3. Church - This would include everything from corporate worship to biblical preaching and fellowship. I love the local church, even with all her faults and failures. God has often spoken to me through a sermon, moved my heart during worship, and encouraged me to go further through the people I fellowship with at church. I love to sit under anointing preaching, and I love to get lost in worship. When I was in college and attending Watkinsville First Baptist (where I am now an Associate Pastor), I did not want to go home on weekends because I thought revival might break out and I would miss it. Oh that we would have a hunger to meet with God ... at CHURCH!

4. Timely Books and Conferences - Someone once said, "We are most influenced by the people we know and the books we read." I agree. I love to read an anointed book when it speaks to something that God is doing in my life. Books like "The God You Can Know", "Victory Over the Darkness," and most recently "Crazy Love" have been used of God to keep my heart tender toward the Lord. In addition, I will never forget the time at a Piper conference I was touched so deeply that I wept uncontrollably for over an hour.

5. Understanding the Exchanged Life - For many years I tried hard to be a good Christian. I almost burned out. Praise God the Holy Spirit introduced me to Galatians 2:20 - which is now my life verse - where instead of me trying hard to live for God, I need to allow Jesus to live His life through me in the power of the Holy Spirit. Now, when I feel weak, I rejoice and exchange my weakness for His divine power - this is the exchanged life: exchanging my life for His.

6. Being Out of My Comfort Zone - We often trust God the most when we are out on a limb and feel very inadequate. For me this has come when I have gone on mission's trips and been called to serve in some way that made me uncomfortable. When I was a college student I did some open air preaching at the University of Minnesota. Wow - that was out of my comfort zone. Pastoring in and of itself is out of my comfort zone, but through it I have grown so much. Someone once said, "God wants us to feel wholely inadequate that we might wholely depend on Him."

7. Extended Times in Prayer - I try to take one day every month to pray and seek God in a deeper way. These times have served to take me deeper with the Lord and to hear His voice. My dad used to have a poster in his church office that said, "God speaks to those who are still enough to listen."

As you read my list, what is your list? What has helped you grow the most? What can you do to faciliate greater growth. Let's seek the Lord with all our hearts! Let's go as far with Him as He will allow us to! What a privilege to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.