Finish Well One of the most important parts of running a race is keeping your eyes on the finish line. If you happen to look at the other competitors, it can ruin your focus, causing you to slip up. Staying focused is crucial.  The writer of the letter of Hebrews uses this same idea when talk

The Greatest Servant If we’re honest, most of us would rather be served than to serve others. We’d rather feel special than ordinary. We’d rather feel important than insignificant. And though God has made each of us special, important, and created in His image—His children cannot be above se

The Lamb of God Have you ever waited a really long time for something important? Maybe you spent weeks waiting to see an old friend, for news about a medical diagnosis, or for someone to respond to a message you sent them. In the first century, the people of God had waited hundreds and hundr

No Such Thing as a Life-Saving Sword On the first day of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, cheering crowds welcome Jesus into Jerusalem like a king, waving palm branches, spreading garments before him, and singing praises. But one week later, on Good Friday, the crowds want Jesus dead. Why? The palm branc

Our Shield and Warrior One of the primary images of God in the Old Testament is that of God as Warrior. All throughout Scripture, God is frequently going to battle for His people or standing with them in the midst of difficulty—protecting them from harm. Scripture tells us that God does not i

God Gives Good Gifts There are seasons in our lives that are far more discouraging than encouraging. It's inevitable that all of us will experience those moments, and it's often in the face of insurmountable grief or heartbreaking experiences. But Romans 15:5 reminds us that there are

Seeking and Finding God In the Old Testament, God’s presence and His relationship with His people was mediated through priests and the temple system. The people of God worshiped God and prayed to Him, but it was the priests who would enter a sacred space and speak with God on their behalf. T

Finding Satisfaction for Your Soul Imagine you’re one of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness with Moses. You’ve been wandering ever since God rescued you from slavery in Egypt. You’re thirsty, but water is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, Moses raises his staff and strikes a rock—and wa

Pray Like This Prayer is simply an honest, ongoing conversation with God.   Jesus tells us that God knows what we need (Matthew 6:8), but He still wants us to come and tell Him what’s on our minds. He's a good Father who cares for us (Matthew 7:11). He wants to speak into our circumstance

Desiring God’s Presence Take a moment to think about your desires in life. Make a mental list of all of the things you want to accomplish. Think about your top priorities and where you think you should spend your time. Now, go back over your list and consider how many of your desires included

True Repentance Sometimes life can feel like one big performance. We can get caught up in pleasing people, becoming successful, and attaining our greatest dreams. While those things are all good, what happens when we fail?  Most people are hard on themselves when they don't live up to the

How to Fight Fear Think back to a time when you were genuinely scared. Do you remember how you felt? As much as we’d prefer to never experience fear, fear is a part of the human experience. But when we are afraid, we have options… We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed with worry, overthin

Rest is a Reality In Hebrews 4:9, the author offers a reassurance of hope: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.” The author is referring to more than just observing a specific day of the week. It’s about an inward peace and wholeness with God, not depending on external cir

The Shepherd’s Promise Psalm 23 is a poem about God as our Shepherd. It’s all about how God knows what's best for us. He knows who we are and the paths we should walk in life. Because He is our Shepherd, He also is our Protector—guarding us from evil. At the end of Psalm 23, there is a pr

Someone Greater There’s a battle happening all around you—a battle for your heart, your mind, and your soul. A battle that’s not only physical, but also spiritual. A battle with literal enemies who impact the seen and unseen world. John wrote: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You

Wisdom from God If you’ve ever gone on a trip somewhere you’ve never been before, you know how important a map is. Maps help us navigate unfamiliar terrain and the unknown areas ahead. Similarly, God’s Word helps us navigate the unknown seasons of life. God’s Word reveals God’s wisdom, which

From Praise to Proclamation In Psalm 105:1 we are invited on a journey—not across geography, but into the heart of God. The verse begins with worship: “Give praise to the Lord.” Before we do anything for God, we are called to behold Him. Praise lifts our eyes from our circumstances and fixes the

Responding to God at All Times Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overflowing happiness. Sometimes, they’ll be separate seasons—but other times, these experiences come together.  In either case and in any situa

Finding Your Purpose The story of Esther is a powerful testimony. It tells about Esther, who risked her life in order to save the people of God from danger. Esther faced the decision between what was easy and what was difficult, and she chose the more difficult way because it was the right th

God as Your Creator Have you ever paused to reflect on God as your Creator? God is unlike any other that is, was, or will be. He alone is able to fully sustain that which He creates. And He alone is able to create—miraculously orchestrating His purposes—merely by speaking it into existence. B