Leading from a Secure Future

“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)

It’s easy to look around the world and not see any reason for hope. But God’s Word is clear: You have real reasons to hope. The first chapter of 1 Peter gives five of those reasons.

God chose you before you chose him.

God always treats you with grace and mercy.

God has secured your future. No matter what happens for the rest of my life, if I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, God guarantees my future. I will never be able to lose my salvation.

The Bible says, “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).

An inheritance is what I'm given because I belong to a family. Usually, it’s given at someone’s death. It’s like a birthright.

Peter gives five words and phrases to describe my inheritance in heaven:

Priceless: Its value is so great that I can’t even measure it.

Kept: I need a reservation to get into heaven, and I can only make that reservation through Jesus. Once I put in my reservation, it can never be canceled.

Pure: It isn’t fake. It’s the real deal.

Undefiled: It can’t be corrupted. I can’t lose it—ever.

Beyond the reach of change and decay: It won’t wither, die, or lose its value.

God has already written the final chapter of my life. I've got a reservation that I cannot lose! I can believe that, trust that, and put my hope in it.

In summary:

This passage reminds me that even when the world offers little reason for hope, God’s Word gives me unshakable confidence because my future is secure in Him. Scripture teaches that God chose us, treats us with grace and mercy, and guarantees our salvation through a relationship with Jesus Christ. As members of God’s family, we are promised a priceless inheritance in heaven—one that is pure, undefiled, protected, and beyond the reach of change or decay. This inheritance cannot be lost, corrupted, or canceled, because God Himself has secured it. Knowing that God has already written the final chapter of my life allows us to live with great expectation, trusting Him fully and anchoring my hope in what is eternally certain.

Bottom Line:

No matter what happens in this life, my hope is secure because God has guaranteed my future through Christ, giving me an unchanging, eternal inheritance that cannot be lost, corrupted, or taken away.

Next Steps:

Anchor my message in hope and make it visible through consistent, practical teaching. This means: I need to name my core message clearly: “My future is secure in Christ, so I can live boldly today.” Create one simple, repeatable rhythm (weekly post, short devotional, or coaching prompt) that helps people connect eternal security with everyday decisions. Share hope with authority, not apology—not as theory, but as something I personally live from and depend on. Invite response, not just reflection: ask one question or give one small action step that helps others place their confidence in God’s promises. I need to consistently steward my voice so people learn to associate me as steady and grounded hope in an uncertain world.

Dreams That Begin with Faith

“Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.” Hebrews 11:1 (NCV)

The life that God planned for me to live is simple. It’s a life of love and faith.

The Bible explains the principle of love: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind . . . Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39 NCV).

And Hebrews 11:6 explains what it means to live a life of faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV). 

If you’re a parent, you know how pleased you are when your child trusts you. It’s the same with God. Your trust in him—your faith—pleases him.

What is faith? Faith is believing when I can’t see it.

People say, “Seeing is believing.”  But God says the exact opposite: “Believing is seeing.” Some things I'll never see unless I believe them first.

Hebrews 11:1 says it like this: “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it” (NCV).   

Every great achievement starts when someone first believes it’s possible. Faith turns dreams into realities. Nothing happens until someone believes it’s possible.

What about me? What dream do I have today that requires faith?

Spend some time today asking God, “What do you want me to do?” When I'm tuned in and talking to God, setting goals becomes an act of faith.

In summary:

The life God intends is rooted in two simple but profound principles: love and faith. Scripture teaches that love means fully loving God and others, while faith means trusting God even when outcomes aren’t visible. Faith pleases God in the same way a child’s trust pleases a parent, because it reflects confidence in who He is and belief that He rewards those who seek Him. Rather than “seeing is believing,” faith operates on the truth that believing comes first, and only then does understanding or fulfillment follow. Every meaningful dream or achievement begins with belief, and faith turns hope into action. The reflection ends by inviting personal application—asking God what step of faith He is calling me to take and allowing goal-setting itself to become an act of trust in Him.

Bottom line:

God calls us to live simply by loving Him and others and by trusting Him fully—believing before we see—because faith pleases God, turns hope into action, and allows His plans and purposes to become reality in our lives.

Next Step:

Intentionally practice and model visible faith through a small, obedient action—and invite others to do the same. Ask God one clear question: “What is one step of faith You want me to take right now?” Act on it publicly and humbly—whether that’s sharing a short reflection on LinkedIn, guiding a coaching conversation around faith and purpose, or setting one goal that requires trust rather than certainty. Turn it into a repeatable framework you can use in coaching or leadership spaces: Listen → Believe → Act → Reflect. I don’t need a bigger platform or a new idea—I need a faith-driven step that others can see and follow, reinforcing my role as a trusted guide who lives what he teaches.

Hope That Starts with Identity

“You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:2 (GNT)

Many people in our broken world wonder why things so often don’t go the way they should. They want to know, “Is there any hope?”

Hope is essential.

We need genuine hope—not just optimism. Optimism is psychological; it’s based on the way I think. Hope is theological; it’s based on who God is and his relationship with me. Optimism is positive thinking. Hope is passionate trusting.

The book of 1 Peter is a letter of hope. Peter wrote it to Christians who were suffering persecution in the Roman Empire.

In the first seven verses of 1 Peter, God gives five roots of radical hope. 

The first root of radical hope is this: God chose you before I chose him.

The Bible says, “You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit” (1 Peter 1:2 GNT).

My salvation is no accident. Long before I chose God, he chose me. I was his idea. Before God even created the universe, he decided he wanted to create me.

Look again at 1 Peter 1:2. It says, “You were chosen according to the purpose of God.” That means God has a purpose for my life. What is that purpose? He wants to make me holy for heaven.

In other words, God has chosen me to spend eternity with him. That’s a big deal! In fact, it’s the highest honor I could ever receive.

And it’s the first reason I can have hope, no matter what’s going on in my life.

Let this root of radical hope grow down deep in my life: Before I chose him, God chose me to spend eternity with him.

In summary:

In a broken world where many question whether there is hope, 1 Peter reminds me that true hope is not based on optimism or positive thinking, but on trusting who God is and His purposeful relationship with me. Hope is theological, not psychological—it is rooted in God’s character and promises. The first foundation of radical hope is knowing that God chose me before I ever chose Him, and that my salvation and life are no accident. According to 1 Peter 1:2, God intentionally chose me and is shaping me by His Spirit to be holy (set apart) and to spend eternity with Him. This truth—being chosen by God for an eternal purpose—is a powerful, unshakable reason for hope in every season of life.

Bottom Line:

My hope is secure because my life is not an accident—God chose me on purpose, is shaping me by His Spirit, and has called me to an eternal future with Him.

Next Step:

This week, clearly articulate and share (in one place) the truth that identity precedes impact: before we do anything for God, we are chosen by God. Turn this into a short devotional, LinkedIn post, coaching prompt, or opening framework for your workshops that helps people move from performance-based living to purpose-driven living.

Start with this line: “Before you ever chose God, He chose you—and that changes how you lead, decide, and endure.”

When I help people settle their identity, I empower them to live with confidence, resilience, and hope—and that’s exactly the impact I'm aiming to make.

 

Radical Generosity Starts with the Heart

“If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 (TLB)

Generosity is about far more than giving money. It’s about living generously in every area of your life.

The Bible says this about generosity: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV).

What does it look like to “be generous on every occasion”? It means being generous with my time, praise, sympathy, forgiveness, love, compliments, and kindness. It means being generous with my listening so that I can seek to understand others. And it means being generous with my attention so that I can be aware of the needs of people.

But God isn’t interested in how I you give in life. He cares about why I give and how I give. He cares about my motivation—my heart. That’s the difference between normal generosity and radical generosity.

Radical generosity is an attitude, not an amount. 

The Bible says it this way: “If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t” (2 Corinthians 8:12 TLB).

God doesn’t need my money, talent, or time. In truth, he really doesn’t need anything from me. But what he wants from me is my heart. What he wants is my love. The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV). When I give my life to Christ, my heart will be with him.

No matter what I do or what I give, it’s important to check my motivation. Why? Because God wants me to “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17 NIV). He wants me to be radically generous.

There is an impact that my radical generosity can have on your life. It will change me and the people around me!

In summary:

True generosity is not measured by how much I give, but by the heart and attitude behind my giving. God calls me to live generously in every area of life—not just financially, but with my time, attention, forgiveness, kindness, and love. Radical generosity is an attitude, not an amount, and God desires that I give what I have with eagerness and sincerity rather than focusing on what I lack. Ultimately, God isn’t after my resources but my heart, because where my treasure is, my heart follows. When my motivation is rooted in honoring Christ, radical generosity transforms not only me but also the lives of those around me.

Bottom line:

God isn’t concerned with how much I give, but with the condition of my heart—radical generosity flows from a willing, Christ-centered motivation and changes both me and those around me.

Next Step:

Choose one intentional act of radical generosity this week that costs you something meaningful but not monetary—your time, attention, encouragement, forgiveness, or presence—and do it quietly, without recognition. Then reflect on how it shifts your heart and the other person’s posture.

Your Problems Are Preparing You for Eternity

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

I need more than positive thinking to survive in this world. I need hope.

In 1 Peter 1, the Bible offers five reasons I can have hope through Jesus Christ:

God chose me before I chose him.

God always treats me with grace and mercy.

God has secured my future.

God’s power will protect me.

I can have hope because God is preparing me for eternity.

God is using everything in my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to get me ready for eternity. Once I understand this, life begins to make sense. I stop saying, “Lord, why is this happening?” because I know why: He’s preparing me for eternity.

The Bible says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).

Those verses describe six truths about problems:

Problems are temporary. They won’t last forever.

Problems are necessary. They are an indispensable part of preparing me for heaven.

Problems are varied. I’ll experience trials of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of intensity.

Problems test my faith. I build muscles by testing them. In the same way, when my faith is tested, my faith grows stronger.

Problems purify my motives. God is much more interested in my character than in my comfort. He’ll use trials to refine my character.

Problems prepare me for my rewards. The trials I'm going through now don’t compare to the rewards of heaven.

The troubles I'm experiencing now aren’t fun. They may even be painful. But the Bible makes it clear that they’ll make my faith stronger. Then, my faith will produce perseverance.

That’s why I can have hope, no matter what’s going on in my life right now.

In summary:

True hope goes far beyond positive thinking and is found in knowing that God is using every part of my life to prepare me for eternity. First Peter reminds me that trials are temporary but purposeful—they test and strengthen my faith, refine my character, and prepare me for eternal rewards. God chose me, treats me with grace, secures my future, protects me by His power, and is shaping me through both joy and hardship. Though suffering is painful and varied, it is never wasted; like fire refining gold, trials prove my faith is genuine and will ultimately bring glory to God. Because I understand this, I can endure the present difficulties with confidence and hope, knowing that joy and eternity are ahead.

Bottom Line:

No trial is wasted—God uses every difficulty to strengthen my faith, shape my character, and prepare me for eternal joy, which is why I can live with hope even in hardship.

Next step:

Intentionally share my hope story. This week, take one current or past challenge that stretched my faith and clearly articulate how God used it to shape me, not just how He resolved it. Share it—through a short LinkedIn post, a brief devotional, a coaching conversation, or within my leadership circle—focusing on the lesson, not the outcome.

Trust God Even When You Don’t Understand

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (HCSB)

Many people ask God to guarantee their success before trying what he’s asked them to do—but that’s not faith. Faith always requires risk.

Faith means obeying even when you don’t understand. For example, forgiveness never seems like a good idea before I do it, but it’s one of the greatest tests of my faith. When someone hurts me, it may not feel right to forgive that person; it may not appear just. But forgiveness is always the right choice, regardless of whether I understand it.

Remember when I was younger and my parents told me to do something that didn’t make sense? Later I looked back with 20/20 hindsight and understood my parents’ perspective.

That’s how it works with God too.

Faith is doing what’s right even when it seems absurd. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding” (HCSB). I'll never know the whole picture, but God does.

The Bible gives a great example of this in the story of Gideon in Judges 7. Gideon led 300 Israelites to battle 135,000 enemy soldiers. The odds were 450 to 1. God had the soldiers take torches, trumpets, and clay pots—a command I’m sure Gideon thought was ridiculous.

But then God told Gideon to put the clay pots over the torches so the light would be hidden at night. Next he told them to go surround the enemy’s camp. God’s instructions were something like this: When I tell you, blow the trumpets, smash the jars, and let the torchlight blaze out in the darkness. It will look like a vast army is surrounding the camp. The enemy will panic, fall into confusion, and turn their swords against each other.

Gideon obeyed, even though it didn’t make any sense. The Israelites blew their trumpets, broke their pots, and revealed the light from their torches. The enemy soldiers woke up in shock and started fighting each other instead of the Israelites. Because Gideon did what God told him to do—even when he didn’t understand it—the Israelites won the battle.

Sometimes God asks me to do something that seems foolish—like stepping into a difficult situation against overwhelming odds. But when I have faith, I obey him even when I don’t fully understand what he’s asking.

Like Gideon and his soldiers, I can’t live by faith without risk. But God sees the big picture with 20/20 vision. I can trust what he’s asking me to do. 

In summary:   

Faith means trusting God completely and obeying Him even when His instructions don’t make sense to me. Proverbs 3:5 reminds me not to rely on my own understanding, because I never see the full picture—but God does. Forgiveness and other acts of obedience often feel risky or unreasonable, yet they are tests of faith that God always honors. The story of Gideon shows this vividly: though God’s battle plan seemed absurd, Gideon obeyed and God brought victory against impossible odds. In the same way, God may call me into situations that seem foolish or overwhelming, but true faith requires stepping forward in obedience, trusting that God sees what I cannot.

Bottom Line:  

Faith means obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense, trusting that He sees the whole picture and will work through my obedience.

Next Step:

Identify one area of your leadership or ministry where God is prompting me to take a step that feels risky or unclear, and intentionally act on it this week in obedience. Choose something aligned with my mission—launching a small teaching segment, sharing a devotional publicly, inviting someone into a coaching conversation, or moving forward on a workshop or email series—and take the step before you feel fully ready. Acting in obedience will build my faith, sharpen my leadership voice, and move my mission forward.

This World Is Not the End of the Story

“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.” John 14:2-3 (NIV)

No matter what I'm going through, no matter what adversity or discouragement I experience, I can be thankful that the pain is not going to last. God has prepared a home for me in heaven! This life is not all there is.

My current home that I love is nothing compared to the place that Jesus has been preparing for his bride, the church. How long has God been preparing heaven for me?

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34 NLT).

That’s a long time to prepare! God has been preparing heaven since the creation of the world.

There is more to life than here and now, and one day God is going to settle the score and right the wrongs. This is not the end of the story!

Heaven will be beautiful and enjoyable and restful and rewarding. But the best part is that we will be with Jesus—walking and talking with him and sitting at his feet. He said in John 14:2-3, “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” (NIV).

What an incredible promise! I get to be with Jesus forever. God wanted a family, so he chose me and is preparing a place for me. If I trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord of my life, that promise is for me.

In summary:

Jesus promises that no matter what struggles I face now, they are temporary because He has been preparing a place for me in heaven since the creation of the world. This life is not the whole story—God will one day make all things right, and the home He is preparing will be beautiful, restful, and rewarding. But the greatest part of heaven is being with Jesus Himself, the One who said He will return to take me to be where He is. God wanted a family, chose me, and offers this promise to all who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Bottom Line:

My present struggles are temporary because Jesus has prepared an eternal home for me, and the greatest promise is that I will be with Him forever.

Next Step:

Pause today to thank Jesus for the eternal home He’s preparing and then choose one worry or discouragement you’re carrying—and consciously place it in His hands, reminding yourself that this life is not the end of the story.

God Can Work Everything into His Plan

“We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (GNT)

I need to face it. I do foolish things from time to time. I make mistakes.

But nothing I'll ever do is beyond the capacity of God to use. I make mistakes, but God doesn’t.

The Bible says it like this in Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose” (GNT).

When I make a foolish mistake, God promises he can use it for good.

I want to be clear, though. This isn’t a promise for everyone. The verse doesn’t say that God works everything out for good for those living in rebellion against him or for those who aren’t living for his purposes.

The promise is for people who come to God and say, “I want to live for your purpose. I don’t always get it right. But I want to do the right thing. I want to trust you, and I want to follow you.” Do that, and God will take it all and use it for his good.

That’s a reason for joy.

When I put my life in his hands, it doesn’t mean I'll never goof up again. I'll still make bad decisions. I'll still mess up. But God can fit it all into his plans.

There is no plan B for my life. God knew all the mistakes I'd make before I was born. He also knew he’d fit those mistakes into his plan.

That means I can relax. I can stop being anxious. I can rest. Do my best with what God has given me. He will work everything into his plan.

In summary:  

God can use even my foolish mistakes for good when I choose to love Him and live according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 reminds me that while I still make errors, none of them fall outside God’s ability to weave into His plan. This promise isn’t for those ignoring God, but for those who sincerely desire to follow Him—even imperfectly. Because God already knew every mistake I would make and still included them in His purpose, I can let go of anxiety, trust Him, and find joy in knowing there is no “plan B” for my life—only His perfect plan working all things together for good.

Bottom line:  

God can redeem every mistake when I trust Him and live according to His purpose, so I can let go of anxiety and rest in His plan.

Next step:

Choose one area of your life where I feel discouraged by past mistakes and intentionally surrender it to God—pray, “Lord, use even this for Your purpose,” and then take one small, faithful action that aligns with trusting Him rather than fearing failure.

Faith Built on God’s Track Record

“Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done.” Psalm 105:2 (GNT)

Sometimes in life, I don’t realize God is all I need until God is all I have—and that’s exactly what he wants me to learn.

When I experience pain and feel weak and defeated, when I think I have no support and are afraid I'm going under, that’s when God’s strength shows up best. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Each time [the Lord] said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

Have I ever thanked God for the fact that, while other people and circumstances are working against me, he is working in me to make me more like him and to show off his strength and power?

God says in Psalm 50:23, “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me” (NLT).

I can learn to be more thankful today by remembering what God has done for me in the past. When I take time to remember what he has brought me through and how he’s provided for me, it’s like a sacrifice to him. It honors him when I stop and thank him for his past grace.

Even if I'm are experiencing hardship right now, I can still thank God for what he has done.

“Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done” (Psalm 105:2 GNT).

What wonderful things has God done for me in the past? How has he shown his glory in my life by using my pain for good? How have I become more like him through the changes in my life? How can I honor him today with a sacrifice of praise?

I need to take some time to write down one story of God’s faithfulness to me. Maybe it was a time when people from the church or your small group showed up for me. Maybe it was when I had to give something up but learned how to sacrifice in faith. Maybe it was a transformative experience as I served other people. Or maybe it was a quiet moment, a lesson learned, or a decision made.

As I remember what God has done in the past, I'll understand better why he is all I need today, and I'll thank him even more for it.

In summary:

When life strips away my strength and support, I often discover that God is truly all I need—and it’s in those moments of weakness that His power shines brightest. Scripture teaches that giving thanks honors God, especially when I remember how He has faithfully carried me through past challenges and used my pain to shape me into Christlikeness. Even in hardship, I can offer a sacrifice of praise by recalling and telling the wonderful things He has done, just as Psalm 105:2 encourages (“Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done.”. By taking time to reflect on specific moments of God’s faithfulness, I grow in gratitude, deepen my trust, and recognize more clearly that He is enough for whatever I face today.

Bottom line:

Remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthens my confidence in Him today—because His power shows up best when I am weak.

Next step:

Write down one specific story of God’s faithfulness in my life—something He brought me through—and thank Him for it in prayer.

Honor God with Thankfulness

“Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.” Psalm 50:23 (NLT)

Anytime I thank someone, I honor that person.

For example, if I say to my wife, “Honey, I’m so grateful for that great Thanksgiving dinner you made,” I just honored my wife. When I say to someone, “Thank you for opening the door for me” or “Thank you for coming to the service,” I am honoring that person. 

An expression of gratitude is a way of honoring another person.

The Bible says that I also honor God when I express gratitude to him. God says this in Psalm 50: “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me” (Psalm 50:23 NLT).

Why is giving thanks a sacrifice? Because it requires my attention and focus; it takes time and energy to think of things to be grateful for.

When my wife does something thoughtful for me, of course she likes me to say, “Thank you.” But if that’s all I ever did, she might begin to wonder, “Does he really love me, or does he just love me for the things I do for him?”

At some point, I have to start moving to a higher level of thanksgiving—which is not just thanking my wife for what she does but thanking her for who she is. That’s a deeper, more mature kind of thanksgiving.

If all I do is thank God for letting me have something or for giving me this food or for all the things he does for me, it’s worth asking yourself, “Do I really love God, or do I just love the things that God does for me?”

I must learn to thank God not just for what he does but for who he is.

When I thank God for who he is, my prayer might go something like this: “God, thank you that your wisdom is greater than mine. Thank you that you know what will make me happy more than I do. Thank you that you’re consistent when I’m inconsistent. Thank you for your love and your mercy, and that you’re always fair. Thank you that even when I don’t understand something, I know you have my best interests at heart.”

That kind of gratitude goes beyond “Thank you, God, for our food” to “Thank you, God, for who you are.” And it’s the kind of gratitude that honors God and gives me deeper spiritual roots.

In summary:

Giving thanks is a powerful act of honor, not just toward people but toward God himself. Psalm 50:23 teaches that gratitude is a sacrifice because it requires intention, focus, and genuine reflection. While thanking others—or God—for what they do is meaningful, mature gratitude goes deeper by appreciating who they are. In the same way we honor loved ones by valuing their character, we honor God when we thank Him for His wisdom, consistency, love, mercy, and goodness—not just His gifts. This deeper form of thanksgiving strengthens our relationship with Him and deepens our spiritual roots.

Bottom line:

True gratitude honors God—not just for what He gives, but for who He is.

Next step:

Today, thank God for one character trait of His—something about who He is, not just what He has done.

Gratitude Develops Your Faith

“Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7 (GW)

An attitude of gratitude is God’s will for me because it develops my faith. 

How does gratitude develop my faith? It happens when times are tough—when things don’t make sense, when I can’t figure it out, when my prayers are unanswered, when nothing is going the way I wanted it to go. It happens when I can say in those circumstances, “God, I know you’re in control. I know you love me, and I know you can bring good out of this. I’m thankful that you’re bigger than my problems.”

Anybody can thank God for good things. But if I can thank God even in the bad times, my faith will grow stronger as my roots go deeper.

Habakkuk was going through tough times. He said, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV).

In the midst of all the bad things that went wrong, Habakkuk rejoiced. What caused his gratitude? He decided to find joy in God: “I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

When everything else in life is a struggle, I can be grateful because the Lord is my Savior. He will pull me through. I'm not alone. He hasn’t abandoned me. That’s a reason to thank him!

Am I able to thank God when life stinks? That’s the ultimate test of the depth of my faith. When I'm going through tough times, don’t look at what’s lost. Look at what’s left—and be grateful for it!

Colossians 2:7 says, “Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving” (GW).

God’s will for me is radical gratitude—giving thanks in all things. I can be thankful to God just for who he is. He has promised to see me through those tough situations, and I'll find my faith will grow even stronger because of it.

In summary:

Radical gratitude strengthens faith by rooting trust in God even when life is difficult or confusing. While anyone can thank God in good times, true spiritual maturity grows when I choose to be grateful in hard seasons, declaring that God is in control, loves me, and can bring good out of any situation. Like Habakkuk, who rejoiced despite loss and hardship, I can find joy in God my Savior, knowing he has not abandoned me and will carry me through. When life feels empty, gratitude shifts my focus from what’s missing to what remains, deepening my faith. As Colossians 2:7 teaches, as I build my life on Christ and overflow with thanksgiving, my roots grow deeper and my faith grows stronger.

Bottom line:

Gratitude in hard times is what deepens faith—thanking God even when life is difficult roots me in Him and makes my faith stronger.

Next step:

Identify one difficult situation I'm currently facing and intentionally thank God for one specific thing He is doing in or through it. This simple act will start strengthening my faith right where I am.

Appreciating Others Raises Their Value

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Radical gratitude means walking through life being grateful in every situation, no matter what—when times are abundant or when times are tight, when times are good or when times are bad. And being grateful can actually serve others; it can become a ministry.

Have you ever realized that every believer is a minister? I am a minister! And one ministry I can create is the ministry of appreciation.

Do you know what the word “appreciation” means? In buying a car, I certainly know the meaning of depreciation. The moment I drive it off the lot, it’s worth less than I paid for it, even if it’s a brand-new vehicle. Depreciation means “to decrease in value.” Appreciation is the opposite. It means “to increase in value.”

When I appreciate my spouse, daughter or grandchildren, I raise their value. When I appreciate my co-workers or boss, I raise their value—to both myself and the company. 

The ministry of appreciation raises the value of people. As I develop radical gratitude, I can make a ministry out of raising the value of people simply by appreciating them.

The Bible says it like this: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).

One thing I’ve discovered is this: Everyone needs massive doses of encouragement. I’ve never met anybody who’s said, “Oh no! I don’t need a compliment! I’ve had too many. Please, stop! I’m too affirmed. Don’t give me any more.”

I have an innate need to be affirmed, to be loved, to be appreciated—and so does everybody else. If I want to be used by God, here’s one way: Affirm everyone. Appreciate everyone. Show gratitude to everyone.

That’s how I can develop a ministry of appreciation.

In summary:

Radical gratitude means choosing to be thankful in every circumstance—good or bad—and using that gratitude to serve others. Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 4:29 to speak only what builds people up, and one way to do that is through a “ministry of appreciation.” Appreciation increases a person’s value, whether it’s a spouse, family member, coworker, or anyone we interact with. Everyone longs for encouragement and affirmation, and no one suffers from receiving too much of it. By intentionally appreciating, affirming, and encouraging others, we can meet a deep human need and allow God to use us to raise the value of the people around us.

Bottom line:

Use my words and attitude of gratitude to intentionally build others up—because appreciation is a ministry, and everyone needs encouragement.

Next Step:

Choose one person today and intentionally express specific appreciation for something they do or who they are.

The Path You Didn’t Know Was There

“Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” Psalm 77:19 (NLT)

God can use impressions to speak to me. He can use circumstances. He can even use pain. He can use whatever he wants to use.

Oswald Chambers said, “God is the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments.” 

The Bible says God actively works through our circumstances. And so we cannot judge our situation apart from God’s wisdom. In other words, I must leave it up to God to interpret my circumstances. Only he is capable of understanding all the facts, and only he sees the significance of every detail. That’s why it is so important that I test it all by his Word.

If I'm feeling overwhelmed or confused about a decision, I might be caught up in myself and not God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if I'm feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in my life.

So many times we come up against enormous financial, spiritual, or physical barriers. That’s when we need to confess, “God, there are mountains on either side and an impassable barrier in front of me.” And then wait for God to respond: “I’ve got you exactly where I want you to be. Watch this.” God will make a pathway where there seems to be no way.

Psalm 77:19 says, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (NLT).

In summary:

God speaks and guides in many ways—including impressions, circumstances, and even pain—and because only He sees the full picture, I must rely on His Word and wisdom to interpret what’s happening in my life. Confusion is never from God, who brings peace, not disorder. When I face overwhelming barriers and see no path forward, God often uses those moments to reveal His power, creating a way no one else could see, just as He parted the sea for Israel. Instead of relying on my own strength or understanding, I can surrender to His guidance, trusting that He will lead me step by step on the right path.

Bottom line:

When I feel stuck, confused, or facing barriers that seem impossible, God is already at work creating a path I can’t yet see—my role is to surrender, trust His guidance, and let His peace, not my confusion, lead the way.

Next steps:

Identify the specific area where you feel most stuck or unsure right now—and bring it to God in focused surrender.

Not in general… but one clear situation where you need direction today.

Leadership, calling, business, relationships, a decision—identify the point of confusion.

Then pray:

“Lord, I surrender this situation to You. Show me the next step, and I will follow.”

Aligning Your Heart With God’s Mission

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” Mark 8:35 (NLT) 

In my last post I looked at two ways to develop a heart like Jesus. Today I'm going to look at two more ways.  

If I want to have a heart like Jesus—this next one may shock me. Not only do I have to care about what Jesus cares about and be indifferent to what Jesus is indifferent to, I must get angry about what Jesus gets angry about.  

I tend to think anger is a sin. The wrong kind of anger is sinful but there’s good anger and bad anger. There’s righteous anger and there’s unrighteous anger. Unrighteous anger is selfish, self-centered anger—the kind I feel when someone hurts me, frustrates me, or makes me afraid.

But righteous anger comes from a place of love. When I see people suffering while others have far more than they need, I ought to get angry about that. When I see injustice, poverty, and prejudice, I ought to get angry about that. 

In fact, the Bible makes this point in Ephesians 4:26. It says, “Be angry without sinning” (GW).  

Jesus got angry when children’s needs weren’t being met. In The Message paraphrase, he said, “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom” (Mark 10:13-14). 

Jesus also got angry when human suffering—especially of the poor or vulnerable—was ignored. He said, “Woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them” (Luke 11:46 NIV). God is love—but he is also just. And when he sees injustice in the world, he gets angry—and so should I. 

Lastly, follow Jesus’ example of sacrifice. He said it very clearly: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV).  

Here’s the amazing thing: If I make the switch from living for myself, to sacrificing for Jesus and his purposes, my happiness will go off the charts. Why? Because God wired us in a way that as we become more like him—generous and unselfish—the happier we get. It’s as simple as this: If I live for myself, I'll be miserable. If I give my life away, I'll be happy. 

Jesus spent his time on earth helping people get right with God and right with each other. That’s worth making sacrifices for. 

God wants me to develop a heart like his. And as I do, I'll find real life: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35 NLT).  

In summary:

Jesus teaches that real life is found not in holding tightly to my own desires but in giving myself fully to God’s purposes. To develop a heart like His, I must not only care about what Jesus cares about and stay indifferent to what doesn’t matter, but also allow myself to feel righteous anger toward injustice, suffering, and the mistreatment of the vulnerable—just as He did. This kind of anger is rooted in love, not selfishness, and moves me to act with compassion. Finally, following Jesus means embracing a life of sacrificial service, just as He “came not to be served but to serve.” When I stop living for myself and start giving my life away for Jesus and the Good News, I discover the surprising truth: unselfish living leads to deep joy, and sacrificing for what matters most is where real life is found.

Bottom line:

Real life is found not in living for myself, but in aligning my heart with Jesus—caring about what He cares about, rejecting what doesn’t matter, standing against injustice, and living a life of sacrificial love.

Next step:

Choose one area that stirs righteous anger in you—poverty, neglected children, inequity, isolation, spiritual disconnection, or broken relationships. Commit to a practical action this week: serving, giving, mentoring, advocating, or partnering with an organization.

Investing Your Life in What Lasts Forever

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT) 

A thousand years before I was born, God knew exactly when and where I would exist. He doesn’t have me in the place I'm in just to sit, soak, and sour. He wants me to follow him with an active faith. Jesus used words like come, follow, go, obey, send, and do when he spoke to people. 

For example, Jesus said, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NCV). He didn’t say go only to the places that are comfortable for me, sharing the parts of the Bible I like. He said, “Go everywhere . . . to everyone!” 

So how do I become a part of God’s work in my corner of the world? What matters is not my ability but my availability. God is looking to use people who will make themselves available to him. 

The Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT). God’s not looking for superheroes—people with super-talent, super-energy, or super-intelligence. He’s just looking for people with committed hearts. 

So how can I develop a heart committed to Jesus—a heart like his? There are four ways. I'm going to look at two today and another two tomorrow. 

First, I must care about what Jesus cares about. Jesus deeply cares about two things—the world and the church. 

The Bible says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NIV). God has never made a person he doesn’t love. He loves the people I disagree with, the people I think are evil, and the people who didn’t vote the way I voted. He loves everybody. And if I want to develop a heart like Jesus, I have to learn to love them too. 

Jesus also cares about the church—which the Bible calls his body and his bride. The Bible says, “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it” (Ephesians 5:25 CEV). This is how much Jesus loves the church, Look at the cross. With his arms outstretched, it’s as if he was saying, “I love the church this much! I’m willing to shed my blood and die for it.”  

Second, I must be indifferent to what Jesus is indifferent to. Should followers of Jesus ever be indifferent to anything? Absolutely. Why? Because not everything is equally valuable. Not everything is equally important. Not everything is going to last. Some things aren’t going to last five minutes. Some will last five years, some 50 years, some 500 years. But some things are going to last forever. I need to invest my life in things that matter and in things that will last into eternity.   

Jesus was indifferent to things that didn’t help him fulfill God’s mission. He was indifferent to personal danger, religious traditions, and the opinions of other people. He was indifferent to timetables, politics, getting rich, and impressing others. 

Jesus focused on God’s mission and trusted God to take care of the rest. As he said in Matthew 6:33, “But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you” (GW). 

In summary:

God intentionally placed me where I am and calls me to an active, obedient faith—not comfort or complacency. His eyes search the earth for people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, not those with extraordinary abilities but those who are simply available. To develop a heart like Jesus, I must care about what He cares about—the world He loves and the church for which He gave His life—and become indifferent to what He was indifferent to, refusing to waste energy on things that don’t last or distract from God’s mission. Like Jesus, I’m called to focus on what matters for eternity, trusting God to handle everything else.

Bottom line:

God isn’t looking for perfect people—He’s looking for available, committed hearts. When I care about what Jesus cares about and let go of what doesn’t matter, I become someone God can strengthen and use to make an eternal impact right where I am.

Next step:

Pick one simple, intentional action that aligns with what Jesus cares about: people and the church. Commitment grows through action, not intention. I need to make myself available today to align my heart with God’s heart. When I do it will open the door for Him to strengthen and guide me in ways I can’t orchestrate on my own.

Who Did Jesus Come to Help?

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)

Do you ever wonder, Who should I spend my life helping? If you’re a follower of Jesus, the answer is simple: Live your life focused on the same people Jesus was focused on.

When he was just starting his public ministry, Jesus stood up in his local synagogue and read a passage from Scripture—what we call the Old Testament. That passage explained what Jesus’ ministry was all about: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV).  

Jesus wants you to spend your life focusing on the same kinds of people he did. Here are the five types of people Jesus came to help—the same people he wants me to help as well.

First, Jesus helped the poor—which can mean many different things. Some people experience material poverty; they don’t have enough money to provide for their basic needs. Others are poor morally, not knowing or caring about the difference between right and wrong. And others are spiritually poor; they don’t know that Jesus died for their sins and wants to spend eternity with them in heaven.

Second, Jesus also came for the brokenhearted. Hearts break for all kinds of reasons—including disappointment, rejection, and resentment. But the Bible promises, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

Third, Jesus came for the imprisoned—both those in literal, physical prisons and people in prisons of addiction, secrets, ignorance, and fear. He came proclaiming freedom for them—and that’s what he wants me to do too.

Fourth, Jesus came for the blind. Millions of people are physically blind—which can be a major challenge in some cultures. But Jesus also cares about things like relational and spiritual blindness, where people don’t have strong relationships with each other or with God.

Finally, Jesus came for the oppressed. Our world is full of people who are kicked around, taken advantage of, and put down. Countless people are affected by things like war, abuse and neglect, and even spiritual oppression. Jesus offered liberty to these people—and that’s what he expects from me as well.

The poor, brokenhearted, imprisoned, blind, and oppressed. These are the people Jesus cared for—and they’re who he wants me to care for.

In summary:

Jesus made His mission clear: He came to bring good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, free the captives, restore sight to the blind, and lift up the oppressed—and as His followers, we’re called to care about the same people. Whether someone is financially, morally, or spiritually poor; hurting from rejection or loss; trapped in addiction or fear; unable to see truth or build healthy relationships; or weighed down by injustice or oppression, Jesus moved toward them with compassion and freedom. His life sets the pattern for mine: to focus my time, energy, and love on those who are hurting, overlooked, or bound, extending the same hope and healing He offered.

Bottom line:

If I want to live like Jesus, I must focus my life on helping the hurting, the overlooked, and the oppressed—offering the same compassion and freedom He came to bring.

Next step:

I believe my next step is to prayerfully identify one hurting or overlooked person I can intentionally support this week—someone who is poor in spirit, brokenhearted, trapped, confused, or weighed down. Then take one concrete action: encourage, listen, pray with them, meet a need, or offer guidance.