Train in preparation for the day of battle.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…Hebrews 4:12, KJV I recently had a very entertaining and enlightening discussion with a retired Army colonel. When the conversation turned to some of his experiences in combat, the colonel said something that really jumped out at me. “There were many… Continue reading Train in preparation for the day of battle.

Get the job done, whether you feel like it or not.

And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground. – Luke 22:44, Amplified Bible Children learn a lot of things by watching their parents, and one of the biggest lessons I learned watching my mother… Continue reading Get the job done, whether you feel like it or not.

Thanks for the offer to serve God over there, but He’d rather you help Him over here.

Go and tell My servant David, Thus says the Lord: Shall you build Me a house in which to dwell? – 2 Samuel 7:5, Amplified Bible Every now and then, you’ll have a strong desire to do something for The Lord, but He just won’t let you do it. Your motives are pure, and you… Continue reading Thanks for the offer to serve God over there, but He’d rather you help Him over here.

Let God tell you what it takes to become exceptional.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own]… – Luke 14:26, Amplified Bible What does it take to become great at anything in life? Practice and focus. When we read the stories of champion athletes, outstanding musicians, and successful businesspeople, we detect a pattern of work that is shared across professions, passions,… Continue reading Let God tell you what it takes to become exceptional.

Run for the prize like you really want it.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 1 Corinthians 9:24, Amplified Bible It was dejecting. Barely ten minutes into the game, my daughter’s high school soccer team was… Continue reading Run for the prize like you really want it.

God isn’t real keen on slackness.

How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? – Joshua 18:3, Amplified Bible The Bible is saturated with promises made by God to the saints. Like any good father, God wants to fulfill His promises because He wants to… Continue reading God isn’t real keen on slackness.

Make sure your roots are drinking from the right water source.

…he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river… – Jeremiah 17:8, Amplified Bible In Jeremiah 17:7-8, God gives us a picture of what a God-dependent believer is like. Such a person is like a tree planted by a river, a tree which drinks deeply and… Continue reading Make sure your roots are drinking from the right water source.

There is no substitute for hard work.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. – Proverbs 22:29, KJV On at least two occasions in his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin chronicled the down and out nature of friends given to drink. One of the friends drained Franklin of his meager personal… Continue reading There is no substitute for hard work.

God gave you everything you need to enjoy the ride of life.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-12, KJV No matter how much life you have left to live, you can have an impact… Continue reading God gave you everything you need to enjoy the ride of life.

Don’t be a loner.

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.… Continue reading Don’t be a loner.