The Peace of a Surrendered Heart

“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” Job 11:13-18 (CEV)

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (NCV).

So how can I learn to live in God’s love so that you can live free of fear?

Every day, I need to surrender my heart to God.

When I wake up each morning, before my feet hit the floor, I need to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”

Job 11:13-18 says, “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (CEV).

I find three commands and eight promises in that verse. God says if I do this, then he’ll do that. In fact, so many of God’s promises come with a premise.

First, he gives me the commands: Surrender my heart to God every day. Turn to him in prayer. And give up my sins—confess my sins to God.

Then come the eight benefits: I won’t be ashamed, I’ll be confident, I’ll be fearless, my troubles will be like water under the bridge, the dark night I'm going through is going to be brighter than noon, Ill be able to sleep well because I am safe and secure, I will be filled with hope, and I’ll be emptied of worry.

Wow! These are great benefits to experience. I need to consider writing that Scripture on an index card and put it somewhere where I’ll see it throughout the week. Let it remind me to do those three things—surrender my heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and confess my sins—so that God’s peace will fill my life.

Do this and watch and see how God helps me “rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.”

In summary:

Job 11:13–18 reminds us that when I daily surrender my heart to God, turn to Him in prayer, and confess my sins—even the hidden ones—I open the door to a life free of fear, shame, and worry. This passage outlines three simple but powerful commands that lead to eight incredible promises: confidence, fearlessness, peace, hope, rest, and more. By starting each day giving God control of my heart and emotions, I'm inviting His perfect love to fill me and drive out fear, as 1 John 4:18 teaches. Living this way brings deep spiritual security and transforms even my darkest moments into light.

Hope That Restores Vision

“He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ . . . Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone.” 1 Peter 1:19, 21 (TLB)

My vision—how I see the world, how I see God, and how I see myself—determines my stress level, my success, my stability, and my spiritual strength. It’s all about vision.

The Bible tells the story of how Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus, restoring his vision. From that story, I  learn the process by which God can transform my life and give me my vision back. 

The first step to getting my vision back and living a transformed life is to believe that Jesus can change my situation. 

I need hope in order to change. Hope means believing that Jesus can do what I can’t do on my own—and what no one else can do for me. It’s trusting that what feels impossible isn’t too big for God.

Luke 18:35-38 says, “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (NLT).

I wouldn’t stand up in a huge crowd of people and start yelling—drawing attention to myself—unless I believed it was the only way to get what I needed.

Bartimaeus’ cry wasn’t a cry of desperation. It was a cry of hope. Bartimaeus’ answer was just a few feet away, and he wasn’t going to miss it. He moved because he had hope.

The reason why so many people have lost hope today is because they’re looking for it in all the wrong places. Some people choose to put their hope in the government, until it lets them down. Others put their hope in their job, until they lose it. Some put their hope in other people, and they will inevitably be disappointed because no one is perfect,

There is only one source of hope that won’t disappoint me or let me down. There is only one hope that I cannot lose. That hope is in God.

“He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ . . . Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone” (1 Peter 1:19-21 TLB).

There are lots of ways to lose my spiritual vision. But the key to getting it back is to believe that Jesus Christ can change my situation and bring about transformation. It doesn’t have to stay this way!

In summary:

My vision—how I see God, myself, and the world—shapes every part of my life, including my peace, purpose, and spiritual strength. The story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out to Jesus from the crowd, reminds us that transformation begins with hope—believing Jesus can change what we can’t. Too often, people put their hope in things that disappoint: jobs, people, or systems. But lasting hope is found only in God, who proved His love and power by raising Jesus from the dead. As 1 Peter 1:19, 21 says, because of Christ’s sacrifice, I can put my full trust in God. When I believe that Jesus can restore what I’ve lost, including my vision, I open the door to a renewed life and lasting change.

Winning the Battle in My Mind

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

The reason why most people are ineffective in life is that they’ve never learned how to fight the battle in their mind.

If I want to learn to manage my mind, I have to be free from destructive thoughts. That's not easy. God's Word says I have three enemies working against me to keep me from making lasting changes in life.

The first enemy is my old nature.
Paul says in Romans 7:23, “There is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (NLT).

I find myself doing things I don’t really want to do. That’s the battle in my mind between my old, sinful nature and my good intentions.

The second enemy is Satan.
Satan cannot force me to do anything, but he can make suggestions, and those suggestions are incredibly powerful. He can use other people, the media, or even just suggest negative thoughts directly into my mind.

The third enemy is the world’s value system.
Does anything in our society encourage self-discipline? Not much. Advertisements tell us, “You deserve a break today” and “Have it your way.”

The Bible says in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (NIV).

With enemies like that, no wonder we struggle with temptation, discouragement, despair, and failure!

So how do I fight and win this battle? Look at what 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says: “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV).

I have a choice when it comes to what I think about—and my mind has to listen to me! Perhaps adopt this verse as a life motto: “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what” (Psalm 119:112 CEV).

In summary:

Psalm 119:112, “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what”, declares a firm commitment to follow God's ways, and this kind of resolve is essential because the greatest battles I face often happen in my mind. To live effectively and experience lasting change, I must overcome three powerful enemies: my old sinful nature, which constantly pulls me back into bad habits; Satan, who fills my mind with tempting and destructive suggestions; and the world’s value system, which promotes self-indulgence and discourages self-discipline. Winning this mental and spiritual battle requires intentionally choosing what I think about and using the spiritual weapons God gives me—truth, prayer, and obedience—to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. True transformation begins with deciding, like the psalmist, to obey God's Word no matter what.

My Emotions Serve a Purpose

“The most important commandment is this . . . ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)

Jesus says in Mark 12:29-30, “The most important commandment is this . . . ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (NLT).

Do you hear the emotion in the words of Jesus? He’s saying he doesn’t want me to just kind of love him. He wants me to love him passionately—with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. God wants more than my head knowledge. He wants an emotional relationship with me.

Here are some things to understand emotions. 

First, God has emotions. God is an emotional God. He feels joy, grief, pain, and hatred toward sin. He gets frustrated with people. The only reason I have emotions is because I'm made in God’s image. If God wasn’t an emotional God, I wouldn’t have any emotions.

Second, my ability to feel is a gift from God. Emotions are what make me human. It is my emotional ability that allows me to love and create and to be faithful, loyal, kind, and generous—to experience all the emotions that are attached to the good things in life. My emotions may not always seem like a gift, but even the negative ones have a purpose in my life.

Third, there are two extremes to avoid. Emotionalism is the extreme of saying the only thing that matters in life is how I feel—not what I think or what’s right or wrong. Everything in life is based on my emotions. Emotions control my life.

On the other hand, stoicism says feelings aren’t important at all, and the only things that matter are my intellect and my will.

There are many differing approaches to emotions. Some people have decided that it doesn’t really matter how I feel. They downplay emotions—but that’s not right.

The Bible says this about God: “You look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God” (Psalm 7:9 NLT). He really cares about what I think and feel!

God gave me my emotions for a reason, and he wants me to worship him emotionally—with all my heart and all my mind.

In Summary:

Jesus teaches in Mark 12:29-30 that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—showing that God desires a deep, passionate, and emotional relationship with us, not just intellectual belief. This highlights the importance of emotions in our faith, as God Himself is emotional and created us in His image with the ability to feel. Emotions are a gift that allow me to experience life fully, but I must avoid two extremes: emotionalism, where feelings rule over truth, and stoicism, where emotions are ignored. Instead, God calls me to a balanced, wholehearted worship that involves both my thoughts and my feelings.

Purpose Found in Stillness

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Calling and vision go together. God’s call on my life is his vision for my life. If I want to get God’s vision for my future and experience real transformation, then I’ve got to get his call on my life.

When people hear someone talk about being “called by God,” they sometimes think of it as a scary thing—as if anyone who is called has to be a missionary or pastor or go to some remote part of the world to serve God.

But God’s calling isn’t something spooky or complicated. It’s simply God’s plan and purpose for my life.

Everybody in the whole world is called by God. We are all called to know God and to love him—and to share his love with others. He also calls us to serve him and to use our talents to honor him. The only question is, are we going to answer his call?

To hear God’s call, I’ve got to pay attention to him, which means I have to slow down. I have to make room in my life to make knowing God my first priority.

I can miss Jesus’ call if I'm not paying attention. I might’ve been so focused on my own goals, that I wouldn’t have noticed the unexpected way God was calling me—through the noises in the life.

One way to hear God’s call is to spend regular, consistent time alone with God reading the Bible, praying, and just being still. Isaiah 30:15 says it like this: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (NIV).

When I hear God’s calling in my life and go after it, I will succeed—because God always blesses the vision and calling he gives his people. I need to have and experience quiet time with God, and learn just how much he wants to bless me as I pursue and fulfill my calling.

In summary:

Isaiah 30:15 reminds me that true strength and salvation come through repentance, rest, quietness, and trust in God. To experience real transformation and discover God’s vision for my life, I must embrace his calling—his unique purpose and plan for me. This calling isn’t reserved for pastors or missionaries but is for everyone: to know, love, and serve God, and to share his love with others. However, to hear his call, I must slow down, eliminate distractions, and prioritize time alone with God through Scripture, prayer, and stillness. By doing so, I open my heart to his direction and receive the blessings that come from following his purpose.

Fix My Thoughts, Finding My Strength

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

God wants me to be healthy in every area of my life—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be strong mentally, I must focus my mind on the right things. Three things I can think about to improve my mental health.

Think about Jesus.
You’ve heard the saying, “You become what you think about most.” If I want to become more like Jesus, I have to focus my thoughts on him.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

Think about others.
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB).

This is very countercultural. Our world teaches us to think about ourselves and nobody else. But Jesus was countercultural, and when I think like him, I'll more naturally think of others.

Think about eternity.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When I start focusing on truths like that, all of my problems seem inferior compared to the glory, joy, and pleasure of the things awaiting you in eternity.

My mind is my greatest asset and also my fiercest battleground. I can ask God to help me make the choice every day to feed on his Word, free my mind of destructive thoughts, and fill my mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then I'll be well-equipped to fight the battles in my mind.

In summary:

Hebrews 12:3 reminds me to think about Jesus’ perseverance through suffering so I don’t grow weary or give up. God desires me to be healthy in every way, and a strong, healthy mind comes from focusing on the right things. To improve my mental health, I should fix my thoughts on Jesus—becoming more like Him through reflection on His example, think of others instead of just myself—embracing the selfless mindset of Christ, and think about eternity—gaining perspective and hope beyond any present struggles. By choosing daily to focus on these truths and asking God to renew my mind, I equip myself to overcome the mental battles I'll face.

Mastering My Mind, Transforming My Life

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

God is far more interested in changing my mind than changing my circumstances.

I want God to take away all my problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness. But God wants to work on me first, because transformation won’t happen in my life until I renew my mind—until my thoughts begin to change.

Why is it so important for me to learn to manage my mind? The Bible gives three reasons.

1. Manage your mind because your thoughts control your life.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). My thoughts have a tremendous ability to shape my life in positive or negative ways. For example, maybe I've accepted a thought someone told me when I was growing up: “You’re worthless. You don’t matter.” If I believed that, even though it was wrong, it has shaped my life. I must choose which thoughts I allow to affect me.

2, Manage my mind because the mind is the battleground for sin.

All temptation happens in the mind. Paul says in Romans 7:22-23, “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (TLB).

One reason I get mentally fatigued is because there’s a battle in my mind 24 hours a day. It’s debilitating because it’s intense, and it’s intense because my mind is my greatest asset. Satan wants my greatest asset!

3. Manage your mind because it’s the key to peace and happiness.

An unmanaged mind leads to tension; a managed mind leads to tranquility. An unmanaged mind leads to conflict; a managed mind leads to confidence. When I don’t try to control my mind and direct my thoughts, I will experience an enormous amount of stress in my life. But a managed mind leads to strength, security, and serenity.

“Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT).

When my circumstances are out of my control, take the time to manage my mind. Ask God for his help, and I'll find that I can find peace and happiness despite tough times.

In summary:

Proverbs 4:23 teaches that my life is shaped by my thoughts, and God is more focused on transforming my mind than changing my circumstances. Real change begins with renewing how I think, because my thoughts influence my actions, emotions, and ultimately, the direction of my life. The Bible gives three key reasons to manage our minds: our thoughts control our lives, our minds are the battleground for sin, and a managed mind leads to peace and happiness. An unmanaged mind brings stress, tension, and spiritual defeat, while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts brings strength, serenity, and victory—even in difficult circumstances.

God's Promise of Provision: Trust Over Worry

“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32 (NLT)

The major cause of stress in life is worry. I worry because I wonder if I will have what I need when I need it. But anytime I expect other people to meet my needs instead of God, I'm going to be frustrated and disappointed—because nobody on earth can meet all my needs. Only God can do that.

If I want a cure for stress, I must learn to look to God to meet my needs.

Some people find their security in their job, and when they lose their job, they lose their peace of mind. Others put their security in their marriage. Then their spouse dies, or they go through a divorce, and they ask, “Who am I? What is my identity?” Or maybe putting security in money—but there are a lot of ways to lose money.

Instead of putting my security in things that can be taken away from me, I need to put my security in something I can never lose: my relationship with Christ. I can always trust God to meet my needs.

Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).

If God loved me enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross, shouldn't I think he loves me enough to take care of every other need in my life? He does.

Every time I start to get stressed, pause and say, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 ESV).

God’s going to provide. He’s going to take care of me. Instead of stressing out, look to him to meet all my needs.

In summary:

Romans 8:32 reminds me that if God was willing to give up His own Son for me, I can trust Him to meet all my needs. The root of much stress is worry—often caused by relying on people, jobs, relationships, or money for security, all of which can fail or be taken away. But true peace comes from placing my trust in God, who never changes and never fails. When I look to Him instead of earthly sources, I find lasting security and relief from stress. Every time worry creeps in, I can rest in the promise that “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

 

Celebrate What God Has Done in Your Life

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . His name is the LORD.” Psalm 68:4 (ESV)

To get back in a right relationship with God, I first need to get fed up with the way I'm living, own up to my sin, and hand over control of my life to God. Then, I celebrate what God has done in my life.

In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, it’s important to notice the father’s response: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him . . . The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20, 22-23 NIV). 

The prodigal’s father is like my heavenly Father. No matter what I've done, when I come home to God, he wraps me in his love. He gives me his best and says something like, “All is forgiven! Go get the robe. Go get the shoes. Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.”

I come home to a celebration, not condemnation. And God wants me to join the celebration by giving him my praise. 

I can celebrate my spiritual transformation by simply saying, “Thank you, God. Thank you for your grace, love, and goodness. I lift up my praise to you!”

The Bible says in Psalm 68:4, “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . his name is the LORD” (ESV).

One of the easiest ways to celebrate my own transformation is by singing to God. Worship songs give me a chance to celebrate what he has done in my life and to thank him.

Even if I'm not good at singing the Bible doesn’t say to make my singing sound pretty. It says to make my singing joyful. I can do that! Anybody can make a joyful noise.

So I'll sing my praise to God—not just for who he is but also for the spiritual transformation he’s made in my life.

In summary:

To return to a right relationship with God, I must first acknowledge my brokenness, confess my sin, and surrender control to Him—just as the prodigal son was welcomed with compassion, celebration, and restoration by his father. God, like that father, eagerly embraces me with love and grace, not condemnation. In response to His goodness, the natural outpouring of my heart is praise—offering thanks for His forgiveness, transformation, and unwavering love. As Psalm 68:4 encourages, I lift my voice in joyful song to celebrate who God is and what He has done in my life, knowing that it’s not about sounding perfect, but about expressing gratitude with joy.

Rest for the Weary, His Yoke, My Peace

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (RSV)

The answer to any burden that is weighing me down lies in Jesus.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 RSV).

To understand this passage, I needed to know what a yoke was. When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you,” it sounds like he was going to give me something else to deal with. “My burden is heavy enough already, Lord! I don’t need to take your problems on me!” 

A yoke is actually a board with two arches in it that you put over two cattle so they can pull a cart.

The value of a yoke is that it halves the load. Without a yoke, one cow has to pull an entire load by itself. But if you yoke up the cow with another cow, then the two animals pull the load together, and the load is half as heavy.

When Jesus says to take his yoke upon you, he’s not saying he’s going to give you his problems. Jesus doesn’t have any problems! He’s saying he’s going to share my problems. He’s going to share my load. He’s going to take my stress on himself and bear it with me.

Wow!

Jesus uses three notable verbs in this Scripture: come, learn, and take. Jesus basically says, “Come to me. Team up with me. Then, learn how I do it. Take on a lighter load. This is going to reduce your stress. This is going to make life easier for you to navigate.”

When I'm yoked with Christ, I move together with him. I move in the same direction and at the same speed. And I move in the right direction and at the right speed.

In summary:

Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, not by adding more pressure, but by offering to share their load. In Matthew 11:28–30, He uses the image of a yoke—not to burden us further, but to lighten our struggles by partnering with us, just as two animals yoked together share the weight. Rather than walking alone, Jesus calls us to team up with Him, to learn from His gentle and humble heart, and to find deep rest for our souls. By moving with Him, we find a lighter, more peaceful way of living, guided in the right direction and pace.

 

The Safest Place for My Worries and Concerns

“I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”

2 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)

When I've got something that’s precious to me, whether it’s rare, expensive, or an heirloom, and I don’t want it to be stolen, broken, or burned up, I might take it to the bank and entrust it to the protection of a safety deposit box.

But whatever I entrust to God is safer than the most secure bank vault. He will take care of it—I can count on it. He has a perfect track record. Other people may not have a consistent track record of taking care of things for me. But whatever I entrust to God, he will take care of. 

So what do I need to entrust to God today? It’s whatever I'm worrying or concerned about. Whatever’s keeping me up at night or that occupies my thoughts, I need to entrust it to the safety deposit box of God’s love.

Worry is practical atheism because it’s acting like I don’t have a Father in heaven who loves me and who can be trusted; it’s like I'm a spiritual orphan. Worry is unbelief; it’s saying I don’t believe the thousands of promises God made in the Bible.

For most people, it’s not easy to place things in God’s safety deposit box when they’re in pain. It’s hard to trust anyone when we're suffering, even God. I just want to pull back and hold on to it myself.

Paul knew this, but he also knew that when we are in pain, that’s when we need to trust God the most. He said, “I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT).

Personally I have a hard time and can struggle with keeping commitments. I will mess up! Thankfully, my salvation doesn’t depend on my ability to keep a commitment. It’s based on Christ keeping his promise and taking care of what I've committed to him.

In Summary:

When I entrust something to God—whether it's my worries, pain, or future—it's safer than the most secure vault, because God is faithful and trustworthy. Like Paul, who confidently trusted God even while suffering in prison, I can place everything I care about into God’s hands, knowing He will guard it perfectly. Worrying is essentially doubting God's promises and acting as if I don’t have a loving Father who is capable of caring for me. Though it's hard to let go—especially in pain—trusting God with my concerns leads to peace, because my security doesn’t rest on my ability to keep commitments, but on Christ’s ability to keep His.

Step by Step with Purpose

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.” Philippians 3:12 (CEV)

Here are three more reasons why goal setting matters.

I need to set goals because they give me the hope I need to keep moving.
Job says, “What strength do I have left that I can go on hoping? What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?” (Job 6:11 GW). To keep moving forward, I need to have a goal.

A goal doesn’t have to be big to motivate me. For instance, if I had surgery, my first goal in recovery could be to sit up in bed. Then I might work toward standing up and then later walking down the hallway.

Each of those goals is very small, but they’re all important—because getting from where I am to where I want to be isn’t one big leap. It’s many small steps. A goal doesn’t have to be big to be important—it just has to encourage me to carry on.

I need to set goals because they build my character.
The greatest benefit to my life will not be my accomplishments but rather what happens inside me while I'm moving toward my goal.

God is more interested in my character than he is in my accomplishments. While I'm working on my goal, God is working on me. He is building my character, and that’s what’s going to last for eternity.

That’s why Paul says in Philippians 3:12, “I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize” (CEV). It takes energy, effort, and focus to reach a goal, and the result is that I become more like Christ.

I need to set goals because good goals will be rewarded.
Proverbs 11:27 says, “If your goals are good, you will be respected” (GNT). When I give my life to a good goal, it brings honor and builds a legacy on earth.

But the real reward in setting good goals will come in eternity. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:25-26, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step” (NLT).

Paul was a purpose-driven goal setter. I need to be that, as well, so that I can win the prize that God has prepared for me in heaven.

In summary:

Setting goals is essential for spiritual growth because they provide motivation, build character, and lead to eternal rewards. Even small goals can help me keep moving forward, especially during tough seasons, by giving me hope and direction. As I pursue meaningful goals, God uses the process to shape my character, making me more like Christ. Philippians 3:12 reminds me that reaching my goals takes effort, but it’s through that struggle that transformation happens. Good goals not only earn respect here on earth but also lead to eternal rewards, as I live with purpose and pursue the prize God has prepared for me in heaven.

Living with Purpose: Setting God-Sized Goals

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)

The Bible tells us that Jesus set goals. In fact, he often announced publicly what his goal was for the next phase of his ministry.

So why should I set goals? There are six reasons to set goals, here are the first three.

I need to set goals because it is a spiritual responsibility.
If I don’t have goals, I have already decided to let other people run my life. In other words, when I don’t decide in advance what’s important, I'm letting other people decide for me. I end up wasting my life because I never clarify how I want to grow as a follower of Christ.

The Bible says that to be spiritually mature, I need to set a goal and move toward it—always keeping my eyes focused on it. The apostle Paul said it this way:

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. . . . I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. All of us who are mature should think in this same way” (Philippians 3:12, 14-15 CEV).

I need to set goals because they are statements of faith.
If I'm a believer in Jesus Christ and I set a goal, I'm saying, “I believe that God wants me to accomplish this by this time. This is what I believe God is going to do in my life.”

Goals aren’t just statements of faith; they also stretch my faith. The bigger my goal, the more my faith will be stretched. And that pleases God.

The Message paraphrase of Ephesians 3:20 says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (MSG).

I need to set goals because they focus my energy.
Focus is the key to an effective life. If my energy is scattered across too many things, I end up making little to no impact. But if I focus my life, it’s going to be powerful—and it can change the world.

Besides I don’t have time to do everything. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect me to! The key to being effective in life as a man of God is to do what matters most and forget everything else. Goals help me maintain that kind of focus.

That’s why Paul put it this way about living with focus and purpose: “I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NCV). 

So I'm to stay focused on my goals and ask God to guide as I commit to living out his purpose for my life.

In summary:

Setting goals is a vital spiritual practice that reflects my commitment to living purposefully for God. Jesus modeled goal-setting, and Scripture encourages believers to do the same to grow in maturity, express faith, and focus their energy. Without clear goals, I risk letting others dictate my priorities and wasting the life God gave me. When I set goals in faith, I'm declaring my trust that God can do far more than I could imagine, as Ephesians 3:20 reminds us. Goals not only stretch my faith but also sharpen my focus, helping me live effectively and intentionally. Like Paul, I'm called to run with purpose and pursue the prize of God’s calling in Christ.

Plans with Purpose: God’s Way to True Change

“We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.” Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)

We all get to make our own plans about how we live our lives. But it’s only through God that we have the power and energy to actually make transformation happen.

The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 16:9 says, “We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.”

There are three things I need to reach my goals and change my life—and only God can provide them. 

I need God’s Spirit to empower me.
God’s Spirit can help me make changes I can’t make on my own. Change isn’t the result of willpower; it comes through God’s power. It’s not based on trying; it’s based on trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD All-Powerful” (NCV).

I need God’s Word to guide me.
The Bible is the owner’s manual for life. The more I read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled I'm going to be.

When Joshua was given the great dream of taking over the Promised Land—a goal that was going to take him the rest of his life to reach—God had these words for him: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Joshua 1:8 NASB).

I need God’s people to support me.
I will not be able to reach my goals on my own. It takes a team to fulfill a dream!

A crowd can’t support me, but a small group can. They know when I'm sick, when I'm having a tough time, and when I need a break. I can share my goals and my successes and failures, and they will rejoice with me and encourage me to keep going. I'm going to need that kind of support as I make the right kind of goals and pursue them wholeheartedly.

In the Message paraphrase, Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”

I can make plans and set goals—but only God can give me the strength, direction, and support I need to live the life he’s called me to.

In summary: 

True and lasting transformation requires more than good intentions or personal effort—it needs God’s involvement. Proverbs 16:9 reminds me that while I can make plans for my life, only God gives me the ability to live them out. To reach my goals and experience real change, I need three essential things from God: His Spirit to empower me beyond my own strength, His Word to guide me with truth and direction, and His people to support me with encouragement and accountability. On my own, I’ll fall short, but with God’s power, guidance, and a spiritual community, I can walk the path He has planned for me and fulfill His purpose for my life.

Living Out Love in Community

“Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.” Galatians 6:2 (GW)

Small groups are one way I can obey the Bible when it says: “Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings” (Galatians 6:2 GW).

Here’s an interesting thing: When I share a joy, it’s doubled. When I share a sorrow, it’s halved.

If I come to a small group and say, “Guess what! I just got promoted,” everybody rejoices with me. My joy is exponentially multiplied. When I share my joy with others, it is maximized.

If I come to a small group and share that a family member just died or that I've got bad news from my doctor, then my sorrow is halved. I don’t have to carry that burden alone.

In either case, sharing is good for me. The Bible tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV). And 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it” (GNT).

In a stressful event a small group shows up. They don't always need to do or say anything. They just need to be there for you. That’s what a small group does.

Do I have anybody like that in my life? Am I that kind of support to anyone else? I may think I don’t need one, but a small group can be a lifeline when the disasters of life come. 

Whether they’re maximizing joy or sharing a pain, a small group is where the body of Christ exemplifies Jesus’ teachings to love and care for each other.

In summary:

Being part of a small group allows me to live out Christ’s teachings by sharing both joys and burdens with others. According to Galatians 6:2, helping carry one another’s burdens is a direct way to follow Jesus, and in doing so, I experience the power of community—where joy is multiplied and sorrow is divided. Whether it’s celebrating a success or grieving a loss, small groups provide emotional and spiritual support simply through presence and compassion. This kind of Christ-centered fellowship brings healing, strength, and a tangible expression of God’s love in everyday life.

Love Others the Way God Loves You

“Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (GW)

The same love that God gives to me, he wants me to offer to everyone I meet. It’s not an option or a suggestion. It’s a command from Jesus himself: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT).

As a follower of Christ, I must love everybody—whether I like them or not—in the same way that Christ loves me. That means I am to love them unconditionally, forgive them totally, and consider them extremely valuable.

Loving others in this way will transform relationships!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up” (GW).

This is how God loves me. God never stops being patient with me. God never stops believing in me. God never stops hoping for the best in my life. God never gives up on me. And that’s what God wants me to do with everybody else.

“Love never stops being patient.” That means love extends grace. I need to offer grace to others.

“Love never stops believing.” That means it expresses faith. I tell someone, “Even though we’re having a tough time, I will never stop believing in you.”

“Love never stops hoping.” That means love expects the best. Am I expecting the best in my relationships, or have I settled for less than the best?

“Love never gives up.” That means love endures the worst. It means I can look at the other person and say, “You can throw everything at me, but I’m going to keep loving you, no matter what.”

To see transformation in relationships today, I can pray this:

“Dear God, I admit that I have made a mess in my relationships. They’re complicated and broken, and I’ve often settled for less than the best. They need a transformation! I’d like you to begin by changing me. Deliver me from my fears, because I can see how they make me distant and defensive and even demanding. Today and every day from now on, I want to surrender my heart to you. I want to learn to live my life in your love and be filled with your love.

“Help me to accept others, just as you’ve accepted me. Help me to love others unconditionally, just as you have loved me. Help me to forgive others totally, just as you’ve forgiven me. And help me to value others as much as you value me. Help me to extend grace to and express faith in the people around me. Help me to expect the best in others, and help me to endure the worst when it happens. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

In summary:

True love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:7, is patient, faithful, hopeful, and enduring—and this is the same kind of love God shows us and calls us to extend to others. Jesus commands us to love others as he has loved us: unconditionally, forgiving fully, and recognizing their value. Living out this kind of love transforms relationships, requiring us to extend grace, believe in others, hope for the best, and persevere through difficulties. By surrendering my heart to God and allowing his love to fill and guide me, I can bring healing and renewal to even the most broken relationships.

Clearing the Clutter for a Transformed Life

“We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.” Hebrews 12:1 (GW)

Just like spring cleaning in our homes, it’s important for me to do a spring cleaning in my mind—but this one lasts all throughout the year. For transformation to happen in life, there are going to be some bad habits I'll need to clear out regularly because they’re slowing me down.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up” (GW).

It’s easier to pick up bad habits than it is to get rid of them. There are four reasons why it’s so hard to clean them ou:

Because I’ve had them a long time. I didn’t collect my habits, hurts, and hang-ups overnight. Many of these patterns were established in childhood—patterns that started as survival skills. They might not be helping me now, but they’re familiar, so I hang on to them.

Because I identify with them. I can often confuse my identity with my defects—I'm aggressive or a workaholic or an overeater. And when I see myself in a certain way, I set up a self-fulfilling prophecy, and I have an unconscious fear of change. I can wonder, “If I change, then who will I be?”

Because they have a payoff. Whatever gets rewarded gets repeated. Sometimes I reward negative behavior because it masks my pain or gives me an excuse to fail or it gets me some attention.

Because Satan fights it. Satan doesn’t want me to be transformed and set free. So the moment I get serious about changing, he starts whispering, “Who do you think you are? You can’t change. You’ve tried to change in the past; it won’t work. You may as well give up!”

Cleaning house in my mind is never easy. It takes time, so I will have to be patient. I will have to remind myself of my new identity in Christ. I’ve got to remind myself of a better and bigger payoff—the joy that comes from having a forever relationship with Jesus Christ. And I’ll have to rely on the Holy Spirit, whose power in me is greater than Satan’s attacks.

Choosing this kind of mindset every day will lead to healthy living and a lighter load as I run the race God has for me. 

In summary: 

Just like spring cleaning, I need to regularly clear out the mental and spiritual clutter—especially sins and bad habits—that slow me down and distract me from the life God intends for me. Hebrews 12:1 reminds me to run my race with endurance, letting go of anything that holds me back. Breaking free from long-standing habits is difficult because they feel familiar, are tied to my identity, offer temporary rewards, and are opposed by spiritual forces. But by trusting in the Holy Spirit, remembering my identity in Christ, and focusing on the lasting joy of a relationship with Jesus, I can gradually experience true transformation and live with purpose and freedom.

. 

Change Begins with Truth

“Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.” John 17:17 (GW)

If I want to change any area of my life, I need to know and apply what God says is the truth about that specific area.

For instance, If I want to change my finances, I've got to know what God has said about finances and apply that truth to my life. If I want to change my marriage, I've got to know what God has said about marriage and apply that truth to my life.

How do you know the truth? Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth” (GW).

The theological term for being made holy is “sanctification.” Sanctification means to grow up, to be transformed, to become the way God wants me to be. I am sanctified—or grow up—by knowing and obeying God’s Word.

Ephesians 4:15 says in the Living Bible paraphrase, “We will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ.”

I've got to know the truth if my life is going to be transformed. Why? Because every self-defeating behavior is based on a lie I'm believing. If I want to change my life, I've got to identify the lie and say, “That’s just not true.” Then change the way I think.

Maybe I believe a lie about my past or even my future, and it’s shaping the way I look at life. It’s so much harder to grow spiritually when I don’t know and believe what God says is true about my past, present, and future.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).

The Bible shows me the path to walk on. It shows me when we get off the path. It shows me how to get back on the path. And it shows me how to stay on the path. I cannot know which way to go without the truth of God’s Word. It’s the only way to know what is right and true.

Transformation comes through truth. The more I get into God’s Word, the more it’s going to change the way I think. Once it changes the way I think, then it can change my life.

In summary:

To experience real transformation in any area of life—finances, relationships, or personal growth—I must know and apply God’s truth as revealed in His Word. Sanctification, or becoming more like Christ, happens when I align my thoughts and actions with Scripture. Every self-defeating behavior stems from a lie I believe, so identifying those lies and replacing them with God’s truth is essential for change. Jesus said, “Your words are truth” (John 17:17), emphasizing that God’s Word is the foundation for spiritual growth. The Bible not only teaches what is true but corrects, guides, and equips me to live rightly. The more I absorb and obey God’s truth, the more my thinking—and ultimately my life—will be transformed.

Built to Last: Living for What Matters Most

“To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:21 (GNT)

I will never find fulfillment in life until I begin to live in God’s kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory. 

I can put God’s glory on display by sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone and by joining the family of God. 

Second Corinthians 4:15 says, “As God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory” (NLT). God isn’t talking about bringing people to a religion or a church building. He’s talking about bringing people to a person—Jesus. And every time I share my faith, I bring glory to God.

Not only does sharing the message of Jesus with others bring glory to God, but also joining his family brings him glory. God’s family is called the church.

Ephesians 3:21, “To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen” (GNT).

The Bible says that one day there will be a new heaven and new earth. The only thing that’s going to last for eternity is his church. 

A thousand years from today, if Earth is still spinning, there won’t be a Microsoft or a Hollywood scene. Most countries won’t even exist, because no earthly kingdom lasts forever. Even many of the things I love today will be gone.

But there will still be the family of God. God’s people last. God’s church lasts. It’s the only thing that’s going to last!

I need to be part of a local church family who will love and help me grow in biblical truth and knowledge. I need to be part of a spiritual family. A place where I can give and share my talents and benefit from the love and abilities of others. I need a place where I can bring somebody to hear the Good News about Jesus. 

Joining a spiritual family may be the most significant thing we can do in life. Why? Because the church—God’s family—is going to outlast everything else.

In summary:

True fulfillment comes when I live for God’s kingdom, empowered by His strength and for His glory. I glorify God by sharing the Good News of Jesus and by being part of His eternal family—the church. As more people experience God’s grace, gratitude and glory increase. The church, unlike earthly institutions, will last forever, making it vital to connect with a spiritual family where I can grow, serve, and help others find Jesus. In doing so, I participate in the one thing that will endure for all time: God’s people living for His glory.

Serving with Purpose

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). When I use my abilities to help others, God is glorified. 

God wired me to make a contribution with my life. He did not give me my talents and abilities for my own benefit. They are for the benefit of other people—and their talents are for my benefit.

I am so grateful for people who are talented in areas that I’m not. Everybody has different talents.

Here’s the point: I've got talents, am I using them to bless others? Am I using them to help others?

When I don’t use the talents God has given me, other people get cheated. The way I bring glory to God is by using my talents. “Use them well to serve one another.” God is glorified when I use my abilities to serve others. 

In short, I am blessed to be a blessing. God blesses me so that I can bless the people around me. I need to make it my goal each day to live for God’s kingdom, by his power and for his glory—not thinking about myself but thinking about the people around me.

In summary:

God has uniquely gifted each of us with spiritual talents, not for personal gain, but to serve and bless others—bringing glory to Him in the process. According to 1 Peter 4:10, I am called to use these gifts well, as my abilities are meant to benefit one another. When I fail to use them, others miss out, and God’s purposes through me are hindered. By intentionally using my talents to help those around me, I reflect God's character and fulfill my role in His kingdom. I am blessed not just for myself, but to be a blessing to others—living each day for His glory, not my own.

Created for a Purpose

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)

I'm not here on earth to live for myself.

I was made for a greater purpose than simply to make money, retire, and die. I was made for a mission, and that mission gives my life meaning.

The Bible says, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV).

I'm unique. No one else in the whole world—past, present, or future—is like me. God has made me so unique that there are certain things only i can contribute to the world. Those things make up my life mission.

Until i know my life mission, I'm just existing. Life may seem good, but I won’t experience the fulfillment I would if I were living out God’s intentions for me.

Jesus says in Mark 8:35, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB).

God is giving me the opportunity to build my life around his mission for me. The only way to do that is by starting with a firm foundation: Jesus Christ. “And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11 TLB).

I can choose to build my life on Jesus, the only foundation that will last. Or I can choose to spend my life chasing things that ultimately will fail me.

What’s certain is that one day I will stand before God and he’ll ask: “Did you fulfill the mission that I gave you on this earth?” On that day, it will be clear whether I spent my life fulfilling God’s mission for me—or if I chose to chase lesser things.

The good news is that it’s never too late to start living the life God has planned for me. So I will continue building my foundation on Jesus and pursuing God’s mission for my life today.

In summary:

I was created by God for a unique and meaningful purpose—not just to exist, but to fulfill a mission he planned specifically for me. Ephesians 2:10 reminds me that God designed each of us to do good works through Christ, and living out this purpose brings true fulfillment. While the world may push me to pursue personal success or comfort, Jesus teaches that real life is found in giving myself for his mission and the Good News. Building my life on the solid foundation of Christ allows me to focus on what truly lasts and prepares me to one day answer God’s question: “Did I live out the mission he gave me?” It’s never too late to begin living for that greater purpose.