Learning to Bear With One Another

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always been very good at this. I'm pretty much a black-and-white kind of person. When someone does something or behaves in a way that doesn't line up with what I believe or how I choose to live my life, my natural tendency is to distance myself and move on.

I've never been one to feel the need to keep people in my life just because they've always been there. And when someone hurts me or someone I love, it's especially hard for me to want to have anything to do with them.

You see, I learned at a young age that sometimes you have to put distance between yourself and people who cause you harm, whether through their words or their actions. Over time, I learned to protect myself and the people I love by keeping my distance. And honestly, there are times when boundaries are necessary. Not everyone needs to have a place in our lives, and forgiving someone doesn't mean we have to allow them to keep hurting us.

But as I've gotten older and continued to grow in my walk with the Lord, I've realized there's a difference between protecting my peace and allowing my own way of thinking to determine how I respond to people.

That's where this verse gets personal for me.

Forgiving others has become easier for me over the years, but bearing with them? That's a different story.

I've worked long and hard on forgiveness. When someone has wronged me or my family, I have to remind myself of how much God has forgiven me. When I really stop and think about the grace and mercy He's extended to me, it puts things into perspective. I know I haven't always gotten things right, and I'm thankful that God doesn't give up on me every time I fall short.

You would think that remembering His forgiveness would make bearing with others easier, too. But if I'm being honest, this is still an area where I struggle.

I can forgive someone and still not want to deal with them. I can choose not to hold on to an offense and still find myself frustrated by someone's behavior. And when I see things as right or wrong, it's hard for me to be patient with someone whose actions I believe are wrong, especially when those actions have caused pain.

But Colossians 3:13 doesn't just tell us to forgive one another. It tells us to bear with one another, too.

I've been thinking about what that really means for me. Maybe part of it is learning to be patient with people even when I don't understand their choices. Maybe it's recognizing that not everyone is going to see things the way I do, and that I don't have to agree with someone to treat them with grace. Maybe it's learning not to let someone's behavior dictate the condition of my own heart.

And that's not always easy for me.

I know what it's like to be hurt by people, and I know how easy it can be to decide that keeping your distance is the best way forward. Sometimes it is. But I don't want my past experiences to make me so quick to walk away that I miss opportunities to show the patience and grace God has shown me.

The truth is, I'm still learning. I know God has helped me grow in forgiveness, but I also know He isn't finished working on my heart when it comes to bearing with others.

And maybe that's the point I need to remember most. God continues to be patient with me while I'm learning, growing, and getting things wrong. He doesn't expect me to have everything figured out overnight, and I need to remember that other people are works in progress, too.

I'm not saying this is something I've mastered. Far from it! But I want to be more mindful of how I respond when people disappoint me, frustrate me, or do things I don't agree with. I want to be willing to ask God to help me respond differently instead of automatically choosing to distance myself.

After all, I can be thankful for the grace God has extended to me while still learning how to extend that same grace to others.

I may not be where I want to be in this area, but I'm thankful God isn't finished with me yet.

I Will Restore the Years the Locusts Have Eaten

In Joel 2:25, God was speaking to a people who had experienced tremendous devastation. He was calling them to return to Him and promising restoration after a season of loss. Their circumstances had been devastating, but their devastation would not have the final word.

Imagine working an entire year, planting the seed, tending the land, and looking forward to the harvest, only to watch it all disappear before your eyes. Everything you had worked for was gone in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

That was the reality for the people in Joel's day. The locusts had devastated their land, leaving them without the crops and provisions they depended on.

But there was more to this than the loss of a harvest. Joel used this crisis to call God's people to repentance and to return to the Lord with their whole hearts. He also warned them of the coming Day of the Lord, a time of divine judgment.

I think it's important to understand this context because Joel 2:25 isn't an isolated promise that every loss we experience will automatically be repaid. God's promise of restoration came within a message calling His people back to Him and reminding them of His mercy.

That doesn't mean every hardship we face is punishment for sin. We live in a fallen world, and painful things happen for many reasons. But we can take comfort in knowing that God is merciful, faithful, and present even when life doesn't unfold the way we hoped it would.

For the people in Joel's day, restoration meant more than getting their crops back. God promised to provide for them, remove their shame, and remind them that He was among them.

I tell you all of that to say this: God's restoration is not only about what we receive; it is also about knowing Him more deeply through the process.

What really stands out to me about Joel 2:25 is that God speaks of restoring the years the locusts had eaten. The devastation had consequences that reached far beyond a single growing season. The people had lost food, income, and the fruit of their labor. It would take time for the land to recover.

Yet God promised that those years of devastation would not define their future.

And that is where this verse speaks to my heart today.

How many of us have looked back over our lives and wished we could get certain years back? Maybe there were years spent in painful circumstances, years filled with fear or regret, or years when we felt stuck and couldn't see a way forward. Maybe we spent years waiting for prayers to be answered, or circumstances took opportunities we thought we would always have.

We can't go back and change the past. We can't reclaim every opportunity or undo every painful experience. But we can trust God with the years behind us and the ones still ahead of us.

He can bring healing where there has been hurt. He can give us a new direction when we feel lost. He can open doors we never expected and bring purpose out of experiences we would never have chosen for ourselves.

Sometimes restoration doesn't look like getting back what we lost. Sometimes it looks like becoming stronger in our faith, learning to trust God in a deeper way, or discovering that He was with us even when we couldn't see what He was doing.

And sometimes, restoration means realizing that the difficult years were not the end of our story.

I want to be careful not to suggest that God has promised to give us back every lost year in a literal or material way. That isn't what this passage guarantees. But I believe we can hold on to the truth revealed in this Scripture: our losses do not limit God's ability to work in our lives, and our past does not place Him beyond reach.

When I think about God's faithfulness, I'm reminded that He sees the whole picture when all we can see is the part we're living through right now. We may not understand why certain things happened or why some seasons lasted as long as they did. We may never have answers to every question.

But we can choose to trust the One who holds our future.

Maybe you are in a season right now when you feel as though the locusts have eaten away at your years. Perhaps you're looking at something you lost and wondering how anything good could possibly come from it.

I want to encourage you not to measure God's faithfulness by what you've lost. Instead, look to who He is.

The same God who called His people back to Him in Joel's day is still worthy of our trust. His mercy has not changed. His faithfulness has not changed. And even when restoration looks different from what we imagined, we can continue to seek Him and trust Him with what comes next.

We cannot rewrite yesterday, but we can give God our tomorrow.

Our past may be part of our story, but it does not have to determine how our story ends.

The Power of Prayer

When I read this verse of Scripture, I am reminded of just how important prayer is in our lives and how blessed we are to have a God who hears us when we call upon Him.

But to truly understand the meaning behind this verse, I think it is important to look at the circumstances in which it was written.

James, who is traditionally understood to be the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian church, wrote his letter to believers who were scattered among the nations and facing various trials and difficulties. His letter offered practical instruction on how to live out their faith, not just in what they believed but in how they treated others and responded to the challenges of life.

In the fifth chapter, James speaks about patience in suffering, prayer during difficult times, and calling upon the Lord when someone is sick. He encourages believers to pray for one another and to support one another in their faith. Then he gives us this beautiful reminder in verse 16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James wanted believers to understand that they were not meant to walk through life alone. They were to be a community of people who encouraged one another, confessed their wrongs, offered forgiveness, and lifted one another up in prayer.

I believe that message is just as important for us today.

Sometimes, we may feel that we have to carry our burdens alone. We may be embarrassed to admit our struggles or feel that we should be strong enough to handle everything ourselves. There may even be times when we hesitate to ask someone to pray for us because we don't want to burden them with what we are going through.

But God never intended for us to live as though we have to do everything on our own. He gave us the gift of prayer, and He gave us one another.

There is something special about knowing that someone cares enough to take our needs before the Lord in prayer. There is comfort in knowing that when we are struggling to find the words ourselves, someone else is faithfully asking God to give us strength, wisdom, healing, and peace.

And just as we need others to pray for us, we have the privilege of praying for them. We may not always know what someone is going through behind closed doors, but we can offer encouragement, extend grace, and lift their needs up to the Lord.

The part of this verse that says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,” is especially meaningful to me. It reminds me that prayer is not simply a routine or a collection of words we speak. It is an opportunity to bring our hearts before the One who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally.

Being righteous does not mean being perfect. We all make mistakes, fall short, and have areas in our lives where we need God's correction and guidance. It means seeking to live according to His will, turning to Him when we fall short, and trusting Him with the things we cannot control.

James goes on to use Elijah as an example of the power of prayer. Elijah was a human being just like us, yet God worked through his prayers in extraordinary ways. I love that reminder because it shows us that prayer is not reserved for a select few. We do not have to be someone extraordinary to pray to an extraordinary God.

We may not always understand God's timing, and our prayers may not be answered in the way we hoped. But that does not mean our prayers are meaningless. We can continue to trust Him, even when we cannot see what He is doing.

As I think about this verse, I am reminded that one of the greatest ways we can love others is through prayer. We can pray for their struggles, their healing, their decisions, their families, and their walk with the Lord. We can also be willing to humble ourselves, admit when we are wrong, and allow others to encourage us in our own faith.

We may never know how much our prayers mean to someone else, but we can always know that bringing someone before the Lord is an act of love.

I am thankful that we serve a God who invites us to come to Him, not only with our own needs but also with the needs of those around us. What a blessing it is to know that we can turn to Him at any time, for any reason, and trust that He hears us.

May we never underestimate the power of prayer, and may we never underestimate the difference it can make when we faithfully pray for one another.

God hears our prayers, God knows our hearts, and God is always worthy of our trust.

Worship Music, Our Influences, and the Heart Behind Our Worship

Worship Music, Our Influences, and the Heart Behind Our Worship

Allow me to begin by sharing that this post was inspired by an article I recently read. While I believe the article contained some truth, I also felt it presented the subject from a one-sided perspective. Its overall message seemed to be a criticism of several well-known ministries and the influence they have on today's churches.

Many people have their own opinions about these churches, their teachings, and the ways they draw people into their ministries, beginning with the worship music they produce. I understand that people have different perspectives on this subject, but I also have a unique perspective because I've experienced both sides myself.

Before I go any further, I think it's important to recognize how much our culture influences the things we listen to, the people we follow, and the ministries we trust. We live in a world where people are encouraged to follow trends, personalities, and popular opinions rather than take the time to research things for themselves and seek out what is true. We can easily adopt someone else's beliefs without ever taking the time to examine them in light of God's Word.

And when everyone has their own version of what they believe to be true, it adds another layer to the discussion about worship music and the influence it has on our congregations.

Different Church Experiences

I grew up in a church where the Bible was taught line upon line. The music we sang came from hymnals, and the teaching we received was rooted in the Scriptures. There were few outside influences encouraging us to look beyond the church doors for additional teaching or spiritual guidance.

As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the wisdom in having that kind of foundation. I learned the importance of knowing God's Word, understanding what it says, and building my faith upon it. Looking back, I recognize how much that early foundation has shaped the person I am today and the way I approach my relationship with God.

Then there are these other sides of my experience: the Pentecostal church/non-denominational church/Assemblies of God church. 

These are sides of Christianity that some people question. Some believe that certain Charismatic practices fall outside the way church was intended to function, while others question whether those practices are truly guided by the Holy Spirit.

I understand that people have different convictions about these things. But I can only speak from my own experience, and I know what God has done in my life.

There have been moments when God has touched my heart so deeply that I couldn't begin to put the experience into words. There is a depth to those personal encounters with God that can be difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced anything similar. I can share my testimony, but I cannot fully convey what those moments have meant to me.

Those experiences have been real and meaningful in my walk with the Lord, and they have strengthened my faith in ways I cannot deny.

I don't believe we have to tear down one another's churches or question every experience that differs from our own in order to stand firm in what we believe. We can hold to our convictions while still showing respect to others.

For me, the central truth remains this: Jesus is Lord, and He is the way to the Father. Beyond that foundational belief, Christians and churches may differ in their understanding of certain teachings and practices. Those differences deserve thoughtful consideration, prayer, and a willingness to search the Scriptures rather than an automatic response of condemnation.

Appreciating the Foundation While Continuing to Grow

Let me give you a personal example.

I still have a deep respect for the church I grew up in. I value what I learned there, and I am grateful for the biblical foundation that was laid in my life. That foundation became the starting point upon which I have continued to build my faith.

The church I attend today has different beliefs and practices. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, and we sing contemporary worship songs rather than relying solely on traditional hymns.

Yet I am still being fed the Word of God. I am still learning, growing, and developing in my walk with the Lord.

The deeper beliefs I have embraced through my current church have not erased the foundation laid in me during my childhood. Rather, they have become part of my continued spiritual journey.

I can appreciate where I came from while continuing to grow in my understanding of God. One experience does not have to invalidate another, and differences in worship styles do not automatically mean that one group is sincerely seeking God while the other is not.

So why am I sharing all this background before getting to the subject I really want to discuss?

Because I believe it's important to understand where someone is coming from when they share their thoughts on a subject. My experiences have shaped my perspective, just as other people's experiences have shaped theirs.

And that brings me to worship music.

The Influence of Worship Music

I have always been a huge music lover. Music speaks to me in ways that few other things can. It can move me emotionally, reach places in my heart that words alone cannot, and bring things to the surface that I may not even realize I'm carrying.

Throughout my life, God has used music to speak to me. There have been times when a song has brought comfort, encouragement, conviction, or a reminder of His truth at precisely the moment I needed it.

That is one of the reasons the article I recently read troubled me. It criticized certain churches and worship music associated with ministries that God has used to touch my own life, despite the concerns and reputations surrounding those ministries.

I want to be clear about something: I don't believe we should ignore questionable teachings, excuse wrongdoing, or blindly follow a ministry simply because its music moves us. We are called to exercise discernment, and God's Word must remain our standard for determining what is true.

But I also believe we need to be careful not to assume that everything associated with a particular ministry is without value simply because that ministry has problems or because we disagree with some of its teachings.

I believe God can work in ways we don't always understand. When someone is genuinely seeking Him, He can use unexpected people, circumstances, and even a song from a ministry that has its own shortcomings to draw that person closer to Him.

God's ability to work through something does not mean He approves of everything associated with it. It means that His ability to reach a heart is not limited by human imperfections.

When God Uses the Unexpected

Let me share an example that has stayed with me over the years.

There was a Christian music artist whose song "In Christ Alone" touched my heart and life deeply. It affected me in ways I still find difficult to put into words. That song reached me at a time when its message made a profound difference in my life.

Later, I learned that the artist had been involved in adultery. His marriage ended, and, as I understood it, people and organizations that had once supported him distanced themselves from him.

Learning that was disappointing. Sin has consequences, and I don't believe we should minimize the hurt or damage that wrongdoing can cause.

But something about that situation stayed with me.

The song had already touched my heart. The truth it pointed me toward had already made an impact on my relationship with God. Learning about the artist's personal failures did not erase what that song had meant to me.

The artist was imperfect. I am imperfect. We all are.

And yet God can use imperfect people to communicate a truth that reaches someone else's heart.

That does not excuse the artist's actions, nor does it mean we should overlook accountability. It simply reminds me that the truth of God's Word does not become untrue because the person sharing it has failed to live up to it.

We see throughout Scripture that God has worked through people who were far from perfect. Their failures did not make God any less faithful, and their shortcomings did not place limits on His ability to accomplish His purposes.

Sometimes God uses people in ways we may never fully understand. We don't have to excuse their mistakes, nor do we have to tear down everything good that may have come through them.

We can acknowledge the shortcomings of people while still recognizing the work God has done in our own lives.

Does the Source of a Worship Song Matter?

I understand the argument that when a church sings a contemporary worship song and identifies its copyright or publishing information, people may discover the ministry or church associated with that song. From there, they may begin following that ministry, listening to its teaching, and embracing its beliefs.

That is a legitimate concern, particularly in a culture where people often follow an artist or ministry without examining what it teaches.

I believe churches should be thoughtful about the songs they introduce to their congregations. Worship leaders have a responsibility to consider not only the musical quality of a song but also its lyrics, its theology, and the message it communicates.

We should not simply assume that a song is biblically sound because it is popular or emotionally moving.

But here is where I believe we need to be careful.

Just because a church sings a particular worship song does not automatically mean that it endorses everything about the church, artist, or ministry from which that song originated.

A song can communicate a biblical truth even when the person who wrote it has failed personally or the ministry associated with it holds beliefs with which we disagree.

Should we examine the words we sing? Absolutely.

Should we be discerning about the influences we allow into our lives and churches? Without question.

But should we automatically dismiss a song that speaks biblical truth simply because of where it originated? I don't believe we should.

I have never automatically assumed that singing a song means I am endorsing every belief of the person who wrote it or the ministry that produced it. I listen to the message of the song and consider what it says about God.

I realize, however, that not everyone approaches worship music that way. In a culture where music and personalities can lead people toward particular ministries, I understand why some people raise concerns. Those concerns can be discussed without turning the conversation into an attack on entire churches or groups of believers.

We can warn people to be discerning without being unnecessarily divisive.

What Should Matter Most When We Worship?

When I sing a worship song, there are questions I believe are far more important than whether the song came from a church or ministry with which I personally agree on every issue.

Does the song draw my heart toward God?

Does it communicate truth that aligns with His Word?

Does it glorify Jesus?

Does it remind me of who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised?

These are the things I consider when I worship.

Music is powerful, and that power should never replace the importance of knowing God's Word for ourselves. An emotional response alone is not proof that something is true, and a beautiful melody cannot make an unbiblical message biblical.

But when a song communicates the truth of Scripture and directs our hearts toward the Lord, I believe we should be willing to receive that truth with gratitude.

The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to test everything and hold on to what is good. I believe that principle is important here. We should examine what we hear, hold it up against God's Word, and exercise discernment. At the same time, we should be careful not to reject something good simply because it came from an imperfect source.

Our worship should ultimately be about God, not about the popularity of an artist, the reputation of a church, or the style of music being played.

A Final Thought

At the end of the day, I believe we can stand firm in our faith without tearing down other believers. We can recognize that some ministries have legitimate problems without assuming that everything associated with them is without value. We can appreciate the foundation of our faith while continuing to grow in our understanding of God.

And we can be discerning without becoming judgmental.

My own walk with God has been shaped by different church experiences, different styles of worship, and moments when the Lord has used music to reach me in ways that I cannot fully explain. I am grateful for the biblical foundation I received growing up, and I am grateful for the ways I continue to grow in my faith today.

I know that God has used worship music to minister to my heart, and I don't want to become so focused on where a song originated that I overlook the truth God may be using it to remind me of.

That doesn't mean I will accept every song, every teaching, or every ministry without question. It means I will continue to measure what I hear against God's Word and trust Him to give me wisdom and discernment.

God is the One we worship. His Word is the standard by which we discern truth. And the condition of our own hearts matters far more than winning an argument about someone else's church.

I believe we can have these conversations with grace, humility, and a genuine desire to honor the Lord. We don't have to agree on every practice or tradition to treat one another with respect.

And when a song brings our hearts back to the goodness of God, reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus, or helps us hold on to His promises through a difficult season, I believe we should be thankful for the reminder.

Because ultimately, it isn't about the name of the church on the copyright line or the reputation of the person who wrote the song.

It's about the God the song points us to and whether the message we are singing is true to His Word.

Where Is Your Faith?

(taken from an illustration from a sermon my Pastor taught)

Where Is Your Faith? 

When I saw this illustration that our Pastor shared, I knew I wanted to share it here.

It immediately made me stop and think about where my faith is placed.

The illustration says that our faith should be in three main areas:

The blood of Jesus.
The name of Jesus.
The Word of God.

The more I thought about those three things, the more I realized how beautifully they work together.

Faith in the blood of Jesus reminds me of what Jesus did for me.

Romans 3:23-25 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but that we are justified through Christ Jesus and His sacrifice.

There is nothing I could ever do to earn salvation. I cannot be good enough, work hard enough, or make myself worthy enough. My hope is in what Jesus did for me on the cross.

His blood paid a price I could never pay.

Faith in the name of Jesus reminds me of who I am trusting.

Acts 3:16 tells us that it is faith in the name of Jesus that brings healing and restoration. There is power in His name—not because the name itself is simply a word, but because of who Jesus is.

When I pray, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I am afraid, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I don't understand what God is doing, I want my faith to remain in Jesus.

And then there is faith in the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 tells us, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

God's Word gives us something solid to stand on when everything around us feels uncertain.

Our feelings change.

Circumstances change.

People change.

Life changes.

But God's Word does not change.

There have been many seasons in my life when I didn't understand what God was doing. I couldn't see what was ahead, and sometimes I didn't even know what I was supposed to do next.

But those are the moments when I have learned that faith isn't about having all the answers.

Faith is trusting the One who does.

When I look at these three areas, I see a beautiful picture:

The blood of Jesus reminds me of what He has done.
The name of Jesus reminds me of who He is.
The Word of God reminds me of what He has said.

And those are three things I never want to forget.

My faith isn't in my circumstances.
My faith isn't in my own strength.
My faith isn't in what I can see.

My faith is in Jesus—His blood, His name, and His Word.

And when I find myself struggling to trust, perhaps the question I need to ask isn't, “Do I have enough faith?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Where have I placed my faith?”

Because when our faith is placed in the right One, we can face whatever comes knowing that God is faithful.  Always. ❤️

---

Taking Every Thought Captive

Taking Every Thought Captive

Paul wrote these words as he was defending his ministry and his authority as an apostle.

In this verse, Paul tells us two ways he wages war on behalf of the gospel. First, he demolishes arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against “the knowledge of God.” Second, he takes every thought captive and makes it obedient to Christ.

Demolishing arguments and pretensions seems easy enough, doesn’t it? After all, who doesn’t like to battle over what they believe to be true? Almost no one backs down when they wholeheartedly believe in something strongly enough.

The last part is more tricky, though, isn’t it?

That’s the part that is much harder to do.

Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Doing that means we have to think and live the way Christ would have us think and live. I don’t know about you, but I mess up on this a lot.

My thoughts are all over the place on any given day. Reeling them in and bringing them into obedience to Christ is not a natural thing for me to do—and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I’m always thinking about what has been, what I’m dealing with currently, and what’s to come in the future.

None of us can see the future. We can look back at the past and know what we do and don’t want in our lives. We can look at what is happening right now and think about ways to make things better, hoping and praying for a better outcome when all is said and done.

But what if we thought about all of it through the lens of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

That is something I sometimes struggle with—especially when I want to control the outcome myself.

I'm sure you understand that because you may struggle with the same thing.

I can pray about something and then, not long afterward, find myself trying to figure out how I can fix it. I can give something to God and then start taking it back with my thoughts, my worries, my plans, and my attempts to control the outcome.

Maybe that's exactly where taking our thoughts captive becomes so important.

We have to recognize the thought, hold it up against what we know about God, and then decide whether we are going to let that thought control us—or surrender it to Him.

No one ever said living our lives in obedience to Christ would be easy. It most certainly isn't.

My flesh is always fighting with my spirit in a tug-of-war, with one wanting to win out over the other. I'm thankful that, more often than not, I give way to my spirit. But sometimes it takes me realizing that I've allowed my flesh to get in the way before I finally surrender that thought, that worry, that fear, or that desire for control back to God.

And I'm just glad that Christ wins out in the end.

Maybe that's what I need to remind myself of more often:

I don't have to win every battle in my mind. I just have to surrender every thought to the One who has already won the greatest battle.

Walking with Him is what truly matters.

Giving my thoughts to Him makes all the difference—not only for me, but for my family and the way I live my life.

Will things always go the way I think they should? No. We are living in a fallen world, and difficult things will happen. Disappointments will come. Plans will change. Some things will hurt.

But I know Who is with me.

I know Who holds my past, my present, and my future.

I know Who sees what I cannot see.

And I know that when I surrender my thoughts to Him, I don't have to carry the weight of figuring everything out on my own.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

That's more than just a verse to read.

It's a way to live.

And for me, it's a daily reminder that when my mind starts running ahead, behind, or in a hundred different directions, I can stop, take that thought captive, and bring it back to Christ.

Because my thoughts may not always be under control—but they can always be surrendered to the One who is.

Esteeming Others

(image is from Dollywood's social media page)

Esteeming Others

God has brought this verse to my attention several times this year and it has been making me stop and think about my own heart.

I think most of us would say we don't want to be selfish or prideful. I certainly don't. But if I'm being honest, I can still find myself making life about me without even realizing it.

How am I being treated?
Do they appreciate me?
Do they understand me?
What about what I need?
What about what I want?

And sometimes those questions aren't wrong. We all have needs, boundaries, and things that matter. But this verse reminds me that following Christ means I can't make myself the center of everything.

Paul tells us, “Let each esteem others better than himself.”

That doesn't mean I have to believe that I'm less valuable than everyone else. It doesn't mean I have to ignore my own needs or allow people to mistreat me. I don't believe God calls us to live that way.

To me, it means choosing to look beyond myself.

Choosing to notice someone else's needs.

Choosing to listen instead of always needing to be heard.

Choosing to celebrate someone else's accomplishments without feeling like they take anything away from my own.

Choosing to serve when I could be served.

Choosing to love when it would be easier to walk away.

And maybe most importantly, choosing to remember that my worth doesn't depend on being better than someone else.

I don't have to compete for my value.

I don't have to prove that I'm important.

I don't have to be the smartest person in the room, have the last word, or receive recognition for everything I do.

Because my identity is found in Christ.

And when I truly understand that, it becomes easier to lift someone else up.

Looking to Jesus

What makes this verse even more powerful to me is what Paul says next.

He doesn't simply tell us to be humble. He points us to Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 says:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus had every reason to be exalted, yet He willingly humbled Himself and became a servant.

The King became a servant.

The One who deserved glory chose sacrifice.

And He did it for us.

That puts my own little moments of pride into perspective.

If Jesus could humble Himself for the sake of others, how can I refuse to humble myself when God gives me the opportunity to love, serve, encourage, or put someone else first?

I know I won't get this right every time. I am still learning. God is still working on my heart, and I am grateful that He doesn't expect me to arrive at perfection before He can use me.

Sometimes humility looks like saying, “I was wrong.”

Sometimes it looks like letting something go.

Sometimes it means celebrating someone else's victory.

Sometimes it means listening instead of defending myself.

Sometimes it means putting someone else's needs ahead of my own.

And sometimes it simply means asking God to help me see people the way He sees them.

A Different Way to Live

The world often teaches us to look out for number one.

Build yourself up.

Make sure you're recognized.

Get ahead.

Protect your position.

Make sure everyone knows what you've accomplished.

But Jesus shows us another way.

Serve.
Love.
Give.
Encourage.
Forgive.
Lift others up.
Put others first.

That doesn't make us weak.

It makes us more like Him.

And I think that's what Philippians 2:3 is really asking of me—not to think less of myself, but to stop making myself the center of the story.

Because when my eyes are fixed on Jesus, I have less need to prove myself.

I can celebrate someone else's blessings.

I can cheer someone else on.

I can extend grace.

I can serve without needing recognition.

I can love without keeping score.

And I can remember that there is plenty of room in God's kingdom for someone else to shine without making my own light any dimmer.

Lord, give me the heart of Jesus.

Help me lay down selfish ambition and pride. Help me see others through Your eyes. Help me to listen more, serve more, encourage more, and love more.

And when I'm tempted to make everything about me, remind me that it was never about me in the first place.

It has always been about You.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

That is the heart I want.

Not a heart that asks, “What can I get?”

But a heart that asks,

“How can I love?”

“How can I serve?”

“How can I bless someone today?”

Because that is the kind of heart that looks a little more like Jesus.

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

Before God spoke, the earth was described as formless and empty, with darkness covering the deep. There was no order, no beauty, and no life as we know it.

And then God spoke:

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

This is the first recorded command of God in Scripture. God didn't need materials to create it. He didn't need to struggle against another power. He simply spoke, and creation responded.

There is something especially significant about the fact that God created light before the sun, moon, and stars. Those heavenly bodies aren't introduced until the fourth day (Genesis 1:14–19). The light in these first verses, therefore, isn't simply a description of sunlight. It demonstrates God's authority over creation.

Light existed because God commanded it to exist.

Then Genesis 1:4 says:

“God saw that the light was good.”

God distinguished the light from the darkness, establishing the pattern of light and darkness, day and night. Throughout Genesis 1, we repeatedly see God bringing order out of what was previously without form and filling what was empty.

And there is a beautiful theme here.

The Bible begins with darkness.

And God's first recorded creative word is:

“Let there be light.”

That theme of light continues throughout Scripture.

Light becomes associated with God's presence, truth, righteousness, revelation, and salvation. Later, Jesus declares:

“I am the light of the world.” — John 8:12

John's Gospel intentionally echoes Genesis when it begins:

“In the beginning was the Word...” — John 1:1

John goes on to tell us that life was in Him, and that life was the light of all mankind, and that the light shines in the darkness (John 1:4–5).

So Genesis begins with God bringing physical light into a dark creation, while the larger story of Scripture ultimately points us toward Christ bringing spiritual light into a dark world.

And this is where these verses become personal for me.

I've had seasons in my own life when things didn't look anything like I thought they would. Times when I didn't understand what God was doing. Times when I couldn't see what was ahead or how He could possibly bring something good out of circumstances that felt anything but good.

But looking back, I can see something I couldn't always see in the moment:

God was there.

He was working even when I couldn't see Him working.

He was bringing order where I couldn't see any order.

He was making something beautiful out of things I might have considered broken, empty, or even the result of my own poor choices.

I've learned that God doesn't need everything to already be in order before He begins His work.

Look at Genesis.

It was formless.

It was empty.

It was dark.

And God spoke.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That doesn't mean every dark season in our lives disappears immediately when we pray. Scripture certainly doesn't promise that. There will be seasons when we don't understand, when we have to wait, when we hurt, and when we simply have to trust God in the middle of the darkness.

I've had to learn that too.

But these verses remind me of who God is in the darkness.

He is the God who creates where there seems to be nothing.

He brings order where there is chaos.

He brings beauty where there is emptiness.

And He brings light where there is darkness.

Sometimes we want God to show us the whole picture before we can trust Him. We want to know what He's doing, where He's leading, and how everything is going to work out.

But Genesis 1 reminds me that God doesn't need me to understand what He's doing.

He simply needs me to trust who He is.

Because He is still the God who speaks into darkness.

And when God speaks, darkness doesn't get to argue with Him.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That is the God I know.

And that is the God I trust.

Darkness may be present, but darkness does not have the final word when God is present.

Genesis 1:3–4 isn't merely telling us that God created light. It introduces us to a God who speaks into darkness and brings forth something good.

And if He can do that with creation, I believe He can do it in us, too.

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

(I had AI make this for me. It's amazing at how well it can follow instructions.)

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

I love reading Proverbs. It's one of my favorite books of the Bible to read.

I heard it said many times when I was younger that if you can't read the entire Bible in a year, then be sure to read the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. I've done my best to do that over the years, although I haven't always succeeded.

But there is something about Proverbs that keeps drawing me back. There is so much wisdom packed into those chapters, and so many of the verses are practical reminders of how we're supposed to live.

This verse is a great reminder:

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."
Proverbs 3:7

When I read, "Do not be wise in your own eyes," I basically take it to mean don't think your wisdom is better than the Lord's.

And boy, can we get ourselves into trouble when we do that!

It's easy to think we know what is best. We look at a situation, make our plans, follow our feelings or desires, and convince ourselves that we've got it all figured out. But the Lord sees what we can't see. He knows what we don't know. His understanding is far greater than ours.

Being wise in our own eyes is really a matter of pride. It's saying, in one way or another, "I know better."

And I've certainly had my moments of doing that.

Then the verse goes on to say, "Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."

I don't take "fear the Lord" to mean that I need to be shaking in my boots because of what the Lord will do to me.

Fear can take on so many meanings, but when I see "Fear the Lord," my mind goes to reverence, honor and awe.

I need to hold the Lord in the highest regard. I need to recognize who He is and who I am in comparison to Him. I need to give Him my utmost attention because of all that He has done for me. And I need to give Him the praise, honor and respect that He deserves.

In other words, I need to trust His wisdom more than my own.

And then there is that last part: "Shun Evil."

I take that to mean that anything that isn't honoring to the Lord shouldn't have a place in my life. I shouldn't flirt with it, entertain it or make room for it.

I should shun it.

It needs to stay behind me. It needs to have no place in my heart, my mind or my life.

Man, have I had ample opportunity for evil to really take up residence in my life by trying to be wise in my own eyes.

I remember a time when I lived like a hellion even though I knew better. I wanted my way, and there was nothing anyone—not even the Lord—could say or do that was gonna stop me.

I thought I knew what I was doing.

I thought I knew what I wanted.

I thought doing things my way was going to make me happy.

But ya know what?

That only works for a short while.

Eventually, living that way begins to eat you up inside because deep down you know better. You know when you're going against what the Lord has shown you. And no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, doing things our own way doesn't bring the true peace and fulfillment we're looking for.

I've learned that God's way really is better than my way.

That doesn't mean following Him makes life perfect or that I'll never struggle. It means that I've learned I don't have to figure everything out on my own. I can trust the One who sees the whole picture when I can only see a tiny piece of it.

And maybe that's part of what this verse is reminding me of.

Don't be so wise in your own eyes that you forget who God is.

Don't let pride convince you that your way is better.

Don't let the things of this world take up residence in your heart.

Instead, humble yourself before the Lord. Reverence Him. Trust His wisdom. Follow His ways. And when something isn't pleasing to Him, shun it.

So what this verse teaches me is this:

Don't live for yourself.

Give the Lord the respect, honor and reverence that He deserves.

Trust His wisdom over your own.

And don't allow evil to have any place in your heart or life.

Because I've learned the hard way that being wise in my own eyes can lead me down a path I never intended to go.

But when I humble myself, trust the Lord and follow His ways, I know I'm walking in the direction He wants me to go.

And that's a much better place to be.

May the Words of My Mouth

There are some Bible verses that seem to find us at just the right time.

Psalm 19:14 is one of those verses for me.

I love how this verse is both simple and deep. It is a prayer—but it's also a reminder of the kind of woman I want to be.

A Little Background

Psalm 19 was written by David, and I love the way this psalm unfolds.

In the beginning, David looks at God's creation and recognizes that the heavens declare God's glory. Then he turns his attention to God's Word, describing it as perfect, trustworthy, right, pure and more valuable than gold.

And then, toward the end of the psalm, David turns the focus toward himself.

After looking at who God is and reflecting on God's Word, David essentially says, Now, Lord, look at me.

That's where we find Psalm 19:14.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

I think there is something very intentional about David mentioning both his mouth and his heart.

The Words of My Mouth

Lord, let my words please You.

That's a pretty big prayer when you really stop and think about it.

It's easy to think about our words when we're sitting in church or talking about the Lord. But what about our words when we're frustrated? When we're tired? When someone has hurt us? When we're irritated or disappointed?

Those moments can reveal what's really going on inside us.

I've certainly had moments in my life when I've said something and later wished I could take it back. And as I've gotten older, I've become more aware of just how powerful our words can be.

Words can encourage someone.

They can make someone laugh.

They can bring comfort when someone is hurting.

But words can also wound.

Sometimes we don't even realize how deeply something we've said has affected someone else.

That's why I love that David doesn't simply say, "May the words of my mouth be good."

He says, "May they be pleasing in your sight."

It's not ultimately about whether everyone else approves of what I say.

It's about whether God is pleased with what comes out of my mouth.

And Then There Is My Heart...

This is the part that really makes me stop.

“...and the meditation of my heart...”

What we meditate on is what we think about, dwell on, ponder and allow to occupy our minds.

And God sees those things too.

Other people hear my words, but God sees my heart.

He knows the thoughts I don't say out loud.

He knows the things I worry about.

He knows the things that hurt me.

He knows the things I struggle to let go of.

He knows the thoughts that can creep into my mind when I'm frustrated, disappointed or discouraged.

And that makes this verse much more personal to me.

Because I can sometimes control what comes out of my mouth while still having thoughts in my heart that aren't pleasing to God.

I can say the right thing while thinking something completely different.

God wants more than just the right words. He wants our hearts.

As I've Gotten Older...

I think about this verse differently now than I might have years ago.

Life has a way of teaching us things.

I've experienced joy and disappointment, answered prayers and prayers that seemed to go unanswered. I've experienced loss, changes, relationships, family situations and all the things that come with simply living life.

And through it all, I've learned that I don't want to just look like a Christian.

I want my life to actually reflect Christ.

That means I want my words to reflect Him.

But I also want my thoughts, attitudes, motives and the things nobody else sees to reflect Him too.

That's harder.

Because it's easy to clean up the outside.

It's harder to let God work on the inside.

And honestly, that's where I still need Him every single day.

"My Rock and My Redeemer"

I also love how David ends this verse.

He calls God “my Rock and my Redeemer.”

My Rock.

The One who is steady when life isn't.

The One I can lean on when I don't have all the answers.

The One who doesn't change when everything around me does.

And my Redeemer.

The One who doesn't expect me to have everything figured out or to be perfect.

The One who can take my mistakes, my failures, my weaknesses and my messes and redeem them.

That gives me hope.

Because Psalm 19:14 isn't a prayer that says, "Lord, look at how well I'm doing."

It's really more like:

"Lord, I need You to help me."

Help me with my words.

Help me with my thoughts.

Help me with my attitudes.

Help me with the things in my heart that nobody else sees.

Help me become more like You.

A Prayer I Want to Pray Every Day

The older I get, the more I realize that I want to be intentional about what I allow into my heart and what I allow to come out of my mouth.

I don't always get it right.

But I want to keep growing.

I want to be the kind of person whose words encourage more than they hurt.

Whose thoughts are focused more on God's goodness than on life's disappointments.

Whose heart is quick to forgive.

Whose attitude reflects gratitude.

Whose life points people toward Jesus.

So this verse has become more than just a beautiful Scripture to me.

It's a prayer.

Lord, may the words of my mouth be pleasing to You.

May the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You.

When I'm happy, may my words honor You.

When I'm frustrated, may my words honor You.

When I'm hurt, may my words honor You.

When I'm alone with my thoughts, may my heart honor You.

And when I fail—and I will—may I turn back to You, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Because at the end of the day, that's really what I want.

Not just to say the right things, but to have a heart that is right with Him.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
— Psalm 19:14 NIV

That's my prayer today. And honestly, I think it's a pretty good prayer for every day.