Training is hard. Every athlete will tell you it takes dedication and focused energy to build muscle and improve skills. The same is true on the spiritual side.
Paul says, “Train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). When we ask God to help us overcome a bad tendency–whether it’s worry, gossip, pessimism, a temper, self-indulgence, a sharp tongue or pride–we still have a workout ahead of us.
Stamina doesn’t appear like magic; it’s developed one day, one temptation, one choice at a time. God will give us the strength we need, but it’s only by using that strength day after day that we develop the ability to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
One of the first steps in breaking a bad habit or purging your life of recurring sin is to pray for “a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9) so that we can see what distracts us from what God asks us to do. What tempts us away from the path we want to be on? Into which kinds of situations do we stray?
What discourages us? Makes us want to give up? The more we understand the things that pull us off track and onto “the road that leads to destruction” the easier it will be to stay focused on the narrow “road that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13).
Once we know where the pitfalls lie, we can pray throughout the day, as many times as needed, Give me, Lord, the wisdom to make the good choice right now. Holding Scripture verses in your mind and returning to them throughout the day can help, too. Three of my favorites are:
“God is love” (1 John 4:8).
“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 48:1).
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2).
Often when we seek to make a change in our lives, we work on it for a while, then gradually forget. Jesus’ words to the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane are apt: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Before–and during–any effort to change, we need to continually ask God for the strength to stay awake and persevere in what we are doing. We need to dedicate our hard work to Him and unite our struggles to His. We need to cling to the promise in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.—Proverbs 1:7
That word fear here used to shake me up. It made me wonder, Do I have to be afraid of God to grow in wisdom? Not at all. I’ve come to see how fear in this context means “wonder and awe.” Our world is full of distractions. We’re barraged with information on our phones and computers. How to make sense of it all? This verse reminds me to put first things first. The rest will follow.
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.—Psalm 32:8
We learn from God through Scripture and prayer. I used to start my day with the morning paper, but I found that my spiritual life was overwhelmed by scary headlines. Not fear of God—just fear of everything else. These days, I make sure the good news comes first. I start with prayer, then read a few psalms with my oatmeal. Feeding on God’s word. Later, when I catch up on the news, I have the right focus, knowing where to put my trust.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.—Philippians 4:9
With wise and experienced teachers like the Apostle Paul (writing here), we learn not only through what they say but also through what they do. That’s where we find peace. Paul was the first to admit to his failings, offering an example of how even someone like him, who at first got it so very, very wrong, could later get it all right. He showed how wisdom comes not just through words but also through an inner transformation.
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I was out on my morning run when I glimpsed a sign on a lamppost: FBI.
My mind raced. An FBI investigation! Was there a shooting? A terrorist incident? Fear took over.
The next day, jogging by the same spot, I came upon people setting up camera equipment. FBI? No, they were filming an episode of the TV show FBI: Most Wanted.
By some counts, the phrase “Fear not” shows up in the Bible 365 times, once for every day of the year. Not a day goes by that I don’t need to hear those words.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.—Psalm 34:4
An active imagination is one of the Creator’s gifts, bringing us empathy. But fear can take it off the rails, as it did for me during the Covid pandemic. When you become afraid of what might happen, seek a higher power.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.—1John 4:18
What is the opposite of fear? I want to say “courage.” But no. Love is the opposite of fear. And love is what helps us cast it out. Connecting to God’s love in prayer, I can echo the adage “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”—Mark 5:36
Jesus had been waylaid on his way to heal the daughter of the synagogue leader, and news comes that the girl has died. Jesus turns to the man and offers this extraordinary hope. Often, I find myself uttering these words in prayer: “Rick, do not fear—just believe.” As always, Jesus gets the last word.
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Easter is a time of rebirth and a deep sense of hope. Use these powerful Easter Bible verses to guide you on this day as you reflect on the story of Jesus’ resurrection. How can you bring these Scriptures into your own life and feel the power of Jesus’ love on Easter and beyond?
So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them. (Mark 16:8)
What would your reaction be if you went to the place where they had buried your beloved Lord and discovered the body was no longer there? The best news in the world can be so startling that we can’t embrace it at first. So it was for Jesus’ first followers. Two millennia later, the message of the Resurrection still takes me by surprise. Before singing those “Hallelujahs” at church, I find myself catching my breath. Then I utter the refrain: “The Lord is risen indeed!”
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
I used to wonder why we praise God. Was God so insecure as to need all that affirmation? No—God loves our praise because it’s good for us, like telling a colleague what a great job they did or thanking a friend. Giving credit where credit is due. ’Tis the season of praise and exclamation points! Don’t hold back. Flowers, Easter baskets, colored eggs—they’re all ways to express our exuberance. To thank the Creator for his gift to us.
But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (Luke 18:16)
After we sing the last hymn at church, the kids dash outside for the egg hunt. The eggs and giant bunny are reminders of new life. The event mirrors the thrill of any seek-and-find spiritual journey. No matter your age, a youthful spirit is something Jesus valued. Nurture your inner child for the day.
4. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
5. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:1-6)
6. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
7. Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. (Zechariah 10:1)
8. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:34-35)
9. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)
10. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. (1 Corinthians 15:20-21)
11. I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)
12. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3)
13. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
14. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14: 1-4)
15. It is for 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)
16. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. (2 Timothy 1:9)
17. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
18. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25-26)
19. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20)
20. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
The Bible is filled with the importance of thriving. Psalm 92:12 promises, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” In Proverbs 11:28 we read, “The righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” And in his New Testament rendition, The Message, Dr. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Romans 1:17: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”
The word “thrive” means to grow vigorously, to prosper, to progress toward or reach a goal. You know how vigorously babies normally develop. The apostle Peter challenges us with the following, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). And we are promised that we will prosper when we go God’s way. “They shall prosper that love you” (Psalm 122:6).
God wants us to focus on good goals and reach them. “Be like the runners in a race–run with all your might toward the goal!” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). The book of Proverbs is filled with sound advice on how to flourish:
“If you accept my words and store up my commands within you…you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (2:1, 5).
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (11:25).
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (16:3).
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (16:20).
“He who cherishes understanding prospers” (19:8).
Think and pray about these passages. Then write down several things you are going to do in the days ahead to ensure that you will thrive.
Children often forget their manners—and sometimes adults do as well—but manners make a huge difference in our everyday lives. I’d never thought about it before, but God does an amazing job of teaching us manners in His Word.
He tells us to have a thankful heart. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The words “thank you” are so simple, but they mean so much to the recipient. Today would be a great opportunity to thank Him for all the things we so often take for granted. And it would be a wonderful time to thank those who’ve impacted our lives in big and little ways.
In Philippians 2:14, He advises us to not be grumblers, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.” Nobody likes to hear someone grumble and complain all the time. The Children of Israel did that to Moses about the manna that God sent to feed them. Instead of being thankful that they had food—that they weren’t going hungry—they complained about what they were eating. I know there have been many instances when I’ve grumbled about circumstances—and then realized later that what God had sent me was far better than what I’d wanted. Having that truly thankful heart will keep us from having a complaining spirit.
God wants us to be respectful to others. That includes teachers, bosses, co-workers, siblings and parents. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, He tells us, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” I love how being respectful leads to peace.
He tells us to be kind—and the cool thing is that there’s a bonus in that for us. Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”
The words we say are important—and even the way that we say them. Words like “I’m sorry” or “I appreciate you” go a long way in relationships. In Psalm 19:14, the Bible says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Words can uplift or defeat us—and often what we say can be remembered for the rest of someone’s life. I want my words to be remembered in a good way.
A refresher course in manners is good for all of us—especially when it’s God giving the lesson. Can you imagine a society where all of us treated other people in a kind and mannerly way? It would be awesome…and there’s no reason why we can’t impact our world like that. Maybe you’d like to join me today in saying, “I want it to begin with me.”
No matter what challenges you face, you can find peace of mind and heart with the Bible’s life-giving words.
1. When you face a problem, refuse to think thoughts of failure.
God can’t help you unless you trust him to help. Turn your thoughts from the problem to the God with whom all things are possible. Trust him to guide you to his wise, loving solution. “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).
2. Put your problems in perspective.
Things are seldom as big or scary as they seem. Patience and perseverance can make your problems manageable. Prayer is vital, too. After you pray and wait, often it becomes clear what you can do to solve a problem. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
3. Live one day at a time.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). Our Lord told us to pray about our needs one day at a time: “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). When we leave the past behind and entrust the future to God, life can be filled joy.
4. Never forget the Lord’s desire to give you his blessing and peace.
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
5. Celebrate what you can be thankful for.
One of the vital principles of a peaceful, happy life is thankfulness. God asks us to give thanks always for everything (Ephesians 5:20). “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
6. Instead of asking, “Why?” or, “Why me?” ask what God wants you to do about the situation.
Every disaster is an opportunity to let Christ work through you to demonstrate his love and power. “Be an example…in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
7. Trust God for what you can’t understand.
Man’s inhumanity to man can be overwhelming, difficult to accept much less understand. How can such cruelty exist in a world created by a loving God? But wars and natural disasters are nothing new. They have been around for as long as man has. We are imperfect creatures living in a world where sin and evil have been set free. But God is still in control! Despite the tempest that may rage around you, Jesus promises, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Most people appear self-sufficient, composed, self-controlled. But the truth is that most human beings are plagued with self-doubt, shyness, a sense of inferiority and low self-esteem. We are afraid of ourselves, of the future, of the world.
So how do you become one of the confident ones, someone who believes he is capable of great things? The Book of Proverbs says, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence” (14:26). You could substitute the words awe, respect or love for the word “fear” and be close to the intended meaning. When an individual gets close to God, in loving harmony with God, then his weaknesses, his self-doubts and his shyness disintegrate.
If you want to increase your confidence, to reach more of your goals, begin by really getting to know yourself. Do you truly know what is in you, what you can do? Have you really become aware of your potential? Remember, you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) by the One who created the galaxies and the rain forests. He wants you to be self-assured and successful.
But there’s so much wrong with me! you may be thinking. Here is a proven method for overcoming that kind of negative thinking:
1. Take pencil and paper and make an honest analysis of yourself.
On one sheet of paper, list all the negative things about yourself: your weaknesses, your failures, your faults, your doubts—everything negative. On another sheet, list qualities representing a picture of yourself as you would like to be. On one sheet, you have the way you are; on the other, you see the way you would like to be. Then put the first one away; the other one, fold and put in your pocket or purse. Read it a dozen times a day.
2. Pray that the Lord will empower you with great strength.
Visualize the strength flowing into you.
3. Go out and apply to your immediate problems the best of your diligence and intelligence.
Realize that, as a child of God, you have within you enough strength to meet any situation. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Use prayer to rid yourself of the things that cause your lack of confidence. Build your confidence by repeating the Bible verse: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid…for the Lord thy God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Make a blueprint of what you aspire to be and hold it firmly in your mind. Then, commit your life into God’s hands and let Him bring out of you the powerful person within—the you who is able to overcome. “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence.”
Anger exists because we all have feelings—we’re human. Sometimes fury erupts due to our own weakness, and other times it surges because someone has sinned against us. Yet, “God has called us to live in peace” (1 Corinthians 7:15).
No matter how righteous our anger may be, we can be pretty sure it’s mixed up with a bit of self-righteousness. This should lead us to be cautious about how we respond to hurt, especially because James notes that “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). Psalm 141 explains why I must ask God to “set a guard over my mouth” when I’m mad—it’s so that my heart is not drawn “to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers” (Psalm 141:3-4). It’s awfully easy to lash out, to imitate those who hurt us instead of imitating Christ.
When we are furious, Scripture advises that we should “Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Psalm 4:4). That well-worn advice my father used to offer about counting to ten (or ten thousand, if needed) rests on a piece of truth: Feelings pass. Or more accurately, most feelings pass if we let them. Once the clouds of emotion have cleared, we’re more likely to be able to respond than react.
Dealing with being hurt is hard; anger seems the first defense. Yet we know that hurt and suffering are part and parcel of the Christian life; the Bible doesn’t promise that we will find happiness in this world. It is only in heaven that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
Most of us recognize that we need to let go of anger, that holding on usually hurts us more than the one we’re mad at. But the problem with letting go of anger is that it tends to resurface…day after day. If you find yourself in this situation, pray Ephesians 4:31: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away…along with all malice.” If the person you are angry with feels like an enemy, follow the command of Matthew 5:44-46 and pray for his soul and well-being. Finish by asking God that “no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble” (Hebrews 12:15) between you and this person.
“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). The burden that anger places on our hearts can be lifted when we lift our hearts to God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
It’s April and spring is in the air. Time to wash the windows. With the bottle of Windex I reach around and squirt the outside of our ancient casement windows. I grab a paper towel and wipe the drips quickly.
2. Psalm 51:7 – Wash Me
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
I study my paper towel. How satisfying to see all the dirt I’ve cleaned off from the outside. A minor triumph on a day when I don’t feel I’ve accomplished much. At least this is something that got done.
3. Proverbs 20:9 – Pure
Who can say I have made my heart clean? I am pure from sin. (Proverbs 20:9)
Squirt, squirt. I attack the inside of the window now. I grab another paper towel and wipe the splotches of Windex. Think of how our view of the trees and bushes outside will improve when I’m done. It makes me wonder how many Bible verses about spring cleaning there are in Scripture.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too. (Matthew 23:26)
I look down at the paper towel. Here is a holy mystery of housecleaning: How is it that the inside of my windows are almost as dirty as the outside? What does it say about our general housekeeping? What does it say about us? There must be microscopic dirt that floats inside.
5. Romans 14:14 – Nothing Unclean
There is nothing unclean of itself but to him that sees anything unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14)
Wow, the windows look fabulous. I can see right through them. I should have done this chore weeks ago. Maybe winter wouldn’t have seemed as dreary or dark if my windows had been clean.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:12 – See Through
For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
I put away the Windex and the roll of paper towels, feeling clean both inside and out. The work was purifying like prayer.
God can make the impossible possible. When God told 100-year-old Abraham that he and his 90-year-old wife Sarah would have a child, Abraham dropped to the ground in unbelieving laughter at such a ridiculous idea, and Sarah joined him in the laughter (Genesis 17:15-17; 18:10-12). But it happened.
When an angel told the young Virgin Mary she would have a baby to be named Jesus, she asked how that was possible. The angel’s answer: “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:26-37).
He is saying that to you, too. Do you remember the time when a man brought to Jesus a little boy who often foamed at the mouth and fell down, sometimes into water or fire? This distraught father told Jesus, in effect, “I brought the boy to your disciples, but they couldn’t help us.” But Jesus could! When the man said to the Lord, “If you can do anything…help us!” Jesus replied, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:17-23). Our Lord said almost the same thing to his disciples at other times (Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27). And everyone who believes in Christ is his disciple and can trust him to help in seemingly impossible situations.
Faith and prayer are the keys to making the impossible possible—even though the process can be very slow and even if our faith is very small. Jesus said that faith as tiny as a mustard seed—one of the tiniest seeds on earth—can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
When you face an impossible situation, remember:
“God is my strength and power” (2 Samuel 22:33).
“With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
“We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).
“God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
