Get Wisdom

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.  Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7).

The Bible is the book of Wisdom: The most obvious source of Godly wisdom is the Bible. For every life circumstance there is a Biblical application. The Bible is full of principles that develop Godly character that produces proper conduct and conversation. “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Proverbs 9:12).

·         Learn it and do it: We can all recall times when we didn’t respond wisely. Those incidents can be traced back to one of two possibilities. Either we didn’t know a certain biblical principle or we knew the principle that applied but chose to ignore or violate it. “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it” (Proverbs 8:33). To ensure that we are familiar with God’s standards and the importance of following them, we’ve got to dig into His Word. “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” (Proverbs 3:5).

·         Be Obedient: Suppose a person at your work assaults you verbally with for a costly mistake even though it wasn’t your fault. Your flesh and the world would have you respond in kind with anger and malice. The Bible offers a different approach that might go something like this: “Is there anything else? Thank you for telling me how you feel”. “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Not easy to do, never-the-less, that’s what the Bible tells us to do, so we should not ignore it. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

·         Understanding is Application: Knowledge comes from learning biblical principles and wisdom has to do with applying them. “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). The Lord cautions us to keep His Word in our heart and in our heads so that we will heed His instructions. “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

We get wisdom as we pursue the Christian life. As we read the Bible, do what it says, and observing the result, is for our good even when consequences are often less than favorable. Special classes aren’t required; God simply wants obedient hearts and a willing spirit.

Pride causes Anger

Pride is the emotion of self-absorption and self-centeredness, arrogance and conceit, is easily offended, critical of others, and presumptuous focusing only on his or her rights and preferences. When the prideful person does not get his or her way, they overstate their demands: “An angry man stirs up dissensions, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins” (Proverbs 29:22). Pride is a spiritual disease and is the expression of our inborn sinful nature. Anger can be managed as you reconcile with God and His ways.

·         Humility is the antidote to pride: The trait that keeps us in submission to God is humility. While denying self may appear to be a weakness, it actually clears the way for unusual strength. Because God’s plan always leads to healthy interaction, we can be sure that this submission will bring us more success than failures. “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).

·         Humility is other-focused: As the emotion of self-preoccupation, pride’s bottom line is, “get my needs met.” The Bible’s instruction for successful relationships is to consider others more important than yourself. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). This requires us to be sensitive to others’ feelings and to recognize that their different perceptions can have importance. This is not natural for us to do, and involves a daily, conscious decision on our part. When you practice assertiveness, you can be confident in your choice to communicate your emotions in a constructive fashion while maintaining respect for the other party.

·        Humility accepts limits: Prideful people struggle to maintain balance in their relationships. They create turmoil by imposing their will by attempting to push their preferences and ideas on to others. To establish patterns of successful assertiveness, boundaries must be recognized. First, you must establish personal boundaries, including communicating simple needs to standing openly for deep convictions. Second, you must accept others’ differentness.  Do what is good: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

·         Humility is a choice: If you practice humility as an act of duty only, you would have some success at managing your anger. But then, it wouldn’t really be humility. You’d be living in a subtle form of pride called legalism. Humility is not a duty, it is a choice. By accepting our limits and setting aside self-centeredness, we are not repressing the other emotions. We are putting a higher priority on appropriateness.  Learning to let go of undesirable emotions, like anger, rather than repressing them is unnatural to many. If you have had a history of abuse or if you are accustomed to being invalidated, you have probably learned the trait of repression (denial). To develop humility without repression will require ongoing self-examination.

Give one example of how you became angry because you did not get your way. What was the result? How could you have handled the situation differently? 

Walking along the Growth Path

Our sinful nature means we are broken and unable to fix ourselves. We are rebellious, prideful, and self-centered, wanting control of others, refusing to submit to the will of the Holy Spirit. Only God’s grace and truth reconciles, heals, and restores us back to Him. Relationship with God is possible again when we accept the gift of grace made possible by the Savior’s death and bodily resurrection.

Pressing on toward the goal: Seek Righteousness. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). Examine the external and the internal. “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

Recognize the need: Admitting you do not have it all together and realizing the need is the beginning to growth. The process of spiritual growth begins when people recognize the need for God or growth, or have some type of struggle or problem that requires God’s help. Whenever you can identify the need, you can find the point of entry: Help comes from outside ourselves – that is, from God and others. The following is a partial list of the fruit (symptoms) that are actually the result of deeper soul and spiritual issues:

·         Marriage or dating conflicts, family problems, and career failures

·         Depression, doubt, anxiety, and troubled emotions

·         Addictions and hurts from the past  

Identification of issues: Real change takes place from dealing with the root causes, not just the symptoms. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). Character injuries and immaturities are the central issues that drive the fruit (symptoms).

·         Lack of bonding and trust

·         Problems being separate and setting limits

·         Problems controlling others

·         Inability to deal with one’s badness

·         Problems accepting the failures of others

·         Struggling in relating to the world as an adult

Issues have a history: Our past injury and pride blinds us to the truth and reality that sets us free. For empathy and perspective, be aware of people’s history. Helping others to see and understand the patterns in their lives will help them turn a major corner in their growth. Understanding the past helps people to see what parts are their fault (control, withholding love, non-acceptance), and what parts are the product of living in a fallen world (death of a loved one, chronic illness).

Take ownership: Ownership is about accepting reality. Taking ownership starts when a person comes to the realization of his or her problem and that growth is the only solution. The process often takes time, as people sort out their feelings about the nature and cause of their issues, and then practicing new skills.  

Self-Imposed Anger

Many people will say the reasons behind their anger come from other people or circumstances. Even though external pressures do present difficulties, you still have to take personal responsibility for your choices and how those choices ultimately affect you. The following are some of the more common patterns of self-imposed anger.

·         Moral decline: Too many people increase their anger by compromising their morals to gain acceptance, or not to face the reality of their pain and suffering. In the short term, some satisfaction is felt. But over the long term immorality and emotional turmoil go hand in hand. An immoral lifestyle is one of dissatisfaction and emptiness and that leads to increased frustration. “You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).

·         Work becomes all there is: When people are consumed by work they typically describe themselves as stressed. Overworked, stressful people get angry. Instead, nurture important relationships and set limits regarding activities. “What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor” (Proverbs 21:21).

·         Poor health habits: There are several unhealthy ways relating to self-imposed anger including overeating, lack of exercise, not enough sleep, smoking, and substance abuse. Each of these habits contributes to irritability, low self-esteem, added stress, and reduces quality of life. People seeking to manage anger properly will logically conclude that physical health is a powerful element of personal stability. “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short” (Proverbs 10:27).

·         Materialism is overemphasized: Problems arise when material gain is required for happiness. Perhaps the most common form of anger associated with material emphasis is envy; frustration over someone else’s possession of something we want. If we run the race of materialism, we become vulnerable to false superiority. Anger is reduced when we feel loved, respected and understood. These things cannot be bought. “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1).  

·          Spiritual life is ignored: Anger management is ultimately linked to spiritual stability. When spiritual vitality is absent, personal stability is no longer a matter of inner strength.  Daily problems become overwhelming when we do not have an on-going relationship with God. Being a peace with God empowers us to confidently combat worldly imperfections that would otherwise increase irritability and anger. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

Which of these statements do you identify with, and why? What unmet needs do you think may be driving your behavior? What healthy way can those unmet needs be met? 

False beliefs that cause Anger

Past frustrations can lead to false beliefs. Misconceptions keep us from applying good clear choices of how to best deal with anger and, other issues and struggles. To manage life successfully, we must replace false beliefs with God’s Truth.

1.    My history of rejection leaves me emotionally depleted: Some people believe they are forever jinxed because they have felt rejected several times. This false belief does not prepare people emotionally when others’ do not accept them. So when rejection continues, hope fades while anger builds. “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).   

2.    God should have stopped my problems: Anger is often a result of suffering. Although it is easy to assume God doesn’t care, the Bible in Romans 8:28, tells us that all things are work together for good for those who trust in God. “Be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through the belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b).

3.    Letting go of my anger means I am conceding defeat: Angry people feel like victims because of wrongs they have endured. Some wrongs are underserved and other wrongs are brought on by poor choices. Either way, victimization causes angry people to conclude that forgiveness is unreasonable. “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace” (Psalm 37:37).

4.    No one understands my unique problems: Instead of focusing on the differences between your circumstances and those of other people, we can come to see that everyone knows disappointment in one way or another. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even through refined fire, may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

5.    I don’t deserve to be happy: Sometimes we allow ourselves to be weighed down by the issues of others. Instead of taking responsibility for their issues, we can view our efforts at making healthy choices as a responsible contribution to the well-being of those who play important roles in our lives. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:67).  

6.    There is nothing to look forward to anymore: When people have a pattern of irritability, it is easy for them to conclude that their future will be no different. Angry people can be so tied to their angry pattern they falsely conclude that attempts to change would be pointless. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

Developing a Vibrant Faith

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

What fuels your love for the Lord? The Apostle Paul had a strong commitment and devotion to God. His love for the Lord was obvious because Jesus was always at the center of his beliefs, thoughts, and words, in all he did including work, ministry, and even during trials and suffering.

Share your story: Paul's conversion experience on the road to Damascus was a motivating force in his life (see Acts 9:1-19). Grateful for the gift of grace and mercy he received at salvation, Paul passionately shared with people about his encounter with the resurrected Christ and its resulting impact on him. Just like the Apostle Paul, we have a story to share of God's mercy and forgiveness through salvation and of the new beginning we have in Him.

The gift that keeps on giving: Paul's passion also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message of grace is absolute truth and available to everyone. On the cross, Jesus took all our sins including past, present, and future, upon Him. His suffering and sacrifice was necessary so we might receive forgiveness and redemption, putting us into a right relationship with the Father. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been born again and the Holy Spirit who lives in us at the moment of salvation helps us every day. The more we understand what Jesus accomplished on the cross for our behalf, the greater our passion will be to share the gospel.

Everyday living: Developing a vibrant faith requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Studying the Bible regularly will strengthen your beliefs and give you courage to speak. Caring about the spiritual welfare of others will move you into action. Seek God with all your mind, heart and soul and serve Jesus wherever He leads you. 

Excessive Control causes Anger

Control is not always bad. We need organization and structure to properly function in our lives. As we grow, we learn the value of cooperation and compromises within our relationships. But sometimes that cooperation is replaced by unreasonable demands. These demands can cause us to feel controlled, and that leads to anger. The following three factors stand out in people who are excessive controllers:

1.    Performance over relationships: Performance is important, but how we think and feel are at the core of who we are. Anger comes when we receive unsolicited advice instead of a sympathetic listener. Relating in love is when relationship takes priority over performance, and personal, intimate matters become the focus.

2.    Differentness is threatening: Most people enjoy new and unique experiences and they consider themselves open-minded enough to allow others to be different. On the other hand, most people want emotional and relational issues to be predictable and familiar. Anger comes when we are told not to be different, and then pressured to conform to the other person’s way of thinking.

3.    Obligation is perceived as mandatory: While accomplishing tasks is important, but to some, obligation is all that really matters. There is a resistance to control because people feel the other person doesn’t care and that their choices have been taken away.  Anger and frustration comes when the relationship is by-passed, and when acceptance comes only when we give into the demands of the other person. 

Responding to other’s control: Control is an invitation to a power play. When someone is being unfair, we consider it our responsibility to correct the unfairness. Or, we can be very uncooperative when treated unfavorably. When we resolve not to respond to a wrong with a wrong, we exercise personal responsibility. We also show ourselves to be less dependent on human input and more dependent on God’s guidance. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Acknowledge freedom: Freedom is part of God’s plan of who we are. While we cannot fully stop other people from attempting to control us, we can learn that we are free to disagree and sidestep their demands. Make the most responsible choices of how to respond with assertiveness or dropping it. “It is freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Stand firm: It is only when we trust in God that we will be able to find the strength and stability to make it through life’s storms and struggles. “May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). What steps are you taking towards giving God the things you cannot control?

A Godly Heart

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). The Lord promises to give us the desires of our hearts. But many people take this passage out of context, forgetting that their own mindset plays a vital part in bringing it to fruition. As a wise person once said, "Where your mind goes, your feet go, so be careful what you think about." What is your responsibility when it comes to claiming promises from God?

Delight yourselves in the Lord: Rejoice in God and desire to walk in obedience. “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24). The Lord must have first place in your life before you can claim the promise.

Commit your ways to the Lord: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:5-6). Allow God to change any aspect of your ambition that is not His will. Remember that when He doesn't answer a prayer as you wished, it is for a reason.

Trust Him: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture” (Psalm 37:3). God is merciful, all-knowing, kind, and generous. You can trust Him with your hopes and dreams.

Rest in Him: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7) Resting in the Lord means trusting Him to answer prayers in His timing or transform your desires  so they conform to His will.

Put your Hope in the Lord: “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it leads only evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:8-9). Only when you surrender to Him will you experience God's best for your life.

Do your desires align with God's purpose and plan for your life? He longs to give His followers abundant blessings and fullness of joy. Allow your dreams to be conformed to the Lord's will, and follow His guidance faithfully. 

Developing a Tender Heart

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:25-28).

The Lord wants to give each of us a "heart of flesh" so that we will be moldable and responsive to Him. When touched by God, a tender, yielding heart summits to the pressure and accepts the form He desires much like a lump of clay that allows the potter to determine the shape of the vessel. The following four areas provide insight in developing a tender heart.

The Holy Spirit: God’s gift of the Holy Spirit dwells in each believer. By yielding to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with a willingness and readiness to obey, the heart becomes increasingly tender and sensitive to His leading. The Lord is able to impart greater understanding of His Word to a tender heart because it has faithfully accepted and obeyed previous teachings.

Stay connected with God: Any resistance to God will result in hardening. But those who are accustomed to intimacy with Christ, which is the result of submission to Him, will be quick to deal with sin and return to the place of obedience and blessing.

Stay connected with other believers: People with tender hearts stay closely connected to the body of Christ, seeking to encourage others in their walk of faith. Such individuals are not only receptive to what God wants to tell them they are also teachable, willing to listen, and be corrected by others.

Make Bible reading and pray a priority: As you read the Word and pray, let your heart be tender toward the words of God. As He touches you in each hard area, listen to His direction, and lean on the power of the Spirit to help you yield and obey. Allow Him shape you into a beautiful and useful vessel.

A Clean Heart

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9-11).

Reaching our full potential begins with a clean heart. A clean heart is one that loves the Lord and desires to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a sinful nature, bent away from God. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Pleasing and pleasuring self is man’s normal state.

Salvation changed our hearts and lives: Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin and broke its power over us. By receiving Christ as Savior, we each became a new creation, with a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and a mind that strongly desires to know the Father better. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We also received the Spirit’s power to deny our selfish desires and obey God. With clean hearts, we can begin to realize the capabilities our loving Lord has given us.

Maintaining your heart: The best way to maintain a clean heart is by meditating on Scripture. It acts like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does. Through it, we discover the areas where we have been faithful and also the places where we’ve veered from His path. Expressing genuine repentance brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work will help us keep our hearts clean. 

Seeking the heart of God: The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord’s plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently. Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can’t achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5). 

Developing Spiritual Well-being

Dependency is a normal part of human development. It is the glue that holds relationships together. When we feel consistently loved our emotions show it through our stability. The more we struggle with anger, the more it indicates that our need for love was not met. Through anger we cry the unspoken question, “Why can’t you just love me?”

Feeling unloved breed’s extreme dependency: Extreme dependency allows thoughts and emotions to be dictated by external circumstances. Extreme dependency thinks: “I’ve got to have steady surroundings so I can be stable. I worry about how others treat me.” This we can be sure: His love never changes, His mercy is everlasting.  “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge” (Psalm 62:7).

Developing Spiritual well-being: When your dependency on humans is exchanged for a dependency on strength from God, you begin to learn what it means to have a deeply rooted sense of spiritual well-being. Our dependency for love can be met by accepting God’s great declaration of our worth. “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21). Knowing you can draw upon spiritual strength, you can choose not to let your anger be at the mercy of your environment. Balancing your dependencies can be achieved in part by the following four ways:

1.    Spiritual well-being occurs as we acknowledge our own inability to solve all our own problems. As we admit our weaknesses we take a step toward personal stability. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

2.    Acknowledge the unreliability of other people. This encourages us to accept the reality of the sinful nature in us all. Put your hope in God, not in people. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

3.    Yield yourself to the will of Christ and summit your life to His ways. You will no longer be bound by the opinions of others, and your success is inevitable. “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).   

4.    Spiritual well-being comes by choosing to endorse the healthy characteristics prescribed in God’s Word by setting boundaries and acting assertively when necessary. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16).  

Measuring your Spiritual Growth

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).  

Since our Heavenly Father wants us to mature in the faith, we should stop from time to time and examine our lives to see if we're making progress in this area. Physical growth is fairly easy to evaluate, all you need is a tape measure. But how can you tell if you're growing spiritually?

Desires: Have you noticed that your childhood toys no longer interest you? The maturing process changes our desires in the spiritual realm too. When we're growing, the world's pleasures lose their appeal, while our hunger for God and His Word increases. We are eager to be with Him and share with others how He's working in our lives.

Understanding: When you were young, your perception of the world was very limited. In the same way, we lack spiritual understanding when we're new believers. But in time, we begin to see life from God’s perspective. Trials and temptations become opportunities for growth, and service for the Lord becomes an honor instead of a burden.

Selflessness: The most obvious sign of a child's immaturity is his or her selfishness. He wants his way, and he wants it now! Hopefully that is no longer characteristic of you. A mature believer is submissive to the Lord, willing to wait, and more concerned about others than themselves. How are you doing in these three areas of growth? Maybe it's time to let go of a few childish ways in order to grow into a mature believer. The greatest evidence of maturity is love. When the Lord and other people have first place in our hearts, it's then that we're most like Jesus.

Declaration

“I am a person of vision, purpose, and destiny. I am important to God, created to live a life of significance and influence in my family, in my church, and in my community. I am an overcomer and more than a conqueror. God is not only with me, He is for me. The best is yet to come! Do you believe it? Believe it, think it, and say it!”

Declaration Insights

·        Vision is Hope. Vision is looking forward with great anticipation that something good is going to happen.

·        Our Purpose is growing fully into the likeness of Jesus Christ, bringing Light to the world and glory to God.

·        Unlike luck or chance which is random, God has a divine plan for your life. Your Destiny is the result of being in alignment with the will of God.  

·        Significance means importance, and meaningfulness.

·        Influence is giving your time, talents, and other resources, and using them to fulfill the purpose of God. 

·        An Overcomer is in the process of being free from bondage, prevailing over struggles and weaknesses.

·        You are a Conqueror when you have victory over your enemy!

You make the choice: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifices to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

God makes the change: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A Call to Godly Living

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

Not unlike today’s world, the apostle Paul lived in an age when sensuality, the pursuit of pleasure, and rebellion against the Lord were common place. He responded by writing letters urging Christians not to follow in the ways of the world. Like those early believers, we are to pursue godliness by the following:

Presenting our bodies to God: Who we are, that is, our total being, mind, will, emotions, personality, and physical body, are to be turned over to our heavenly Father (James 4:7a). Submitting ourselves to the Lord requires a defining decision to give Him complete control and a daily commitment to remain under His authority. By surrendering to Him, we position ourselves for godly living.

Becoming living sacrifices:  The Christian life is built around the concept of sacrifice. Jesus left the perfection of heaven to dwell among a sinful people so He might reconcile us to God. He offered up His life to make payment for our sins (1 John 3:16) and brought us into His family. As believers, we are to follow His example. Paul called it a living sacrifice, because it is ongoing and one that is repeated daily.

Life is full of options: Many decisions involve a choice between following God's way or our own. Maturing Christians will increasingly sacrifice their own desires and embrace His will. A life of godliness is characterized by a heart and mind bent toward the things of God. Although we will live imperfectly, our focus is to be on obeying His will and pleasing Him. Let's commit to becoming more like Jesus, the One who willingly gave Himself to God as a sacrifice for us.