On Second Thought “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” — Galatians 5:17, KJV Some of our most regrettable choices are made in remarkably short moments. We may spend yearsContinue reading “When Appetite Outruns Wisdom”
Tag Archives: spiritual discernment
When True Words Turn to Ashes
DID YOU KNOW “Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.” —Job 13:12 Job’s friends did not arrive empty-handed. They brought familiar sayings, accepted theology, and explanations drawn from their own observations. Some of their statements about God’s justice, sovereignty, and moral order were true. Their failure came when they assembledContinue reading “When True Words Turn to Ashes”
When Kindness Needs Courage
As the Day Begins “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” —2 Peter 1:16 Peter’s words come from an eyewitness who had seen the majesty of Jesus Christ. He was not offering a religious legend or a story polished to impress an audience. The Greek word translated “cunningly devised” is sesophismenoi, related to sophizō,Continue reading “When Kindness Needs Courage”
The Wisdom to Wait When You Could Act
On Second Thought “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31 One of the most difficult forms of faith is not acting when we believe we already know whatContinue reading “The Wisdom to Wait When You Could Act”
WHEN THE HEART OVERRULES WISDOM
DID YOU KNOW “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” —2 Samuel 18:5 Leadership often fails not because a person lacks intelligence, courage, or experience, but because the heart becomes unwilling to accept what wisdom requires. David had faced enemies, survived betrayal, commanded armies, and governed a kingdom. Yet when the rebellionContinue reading “WHEN THE HEART OVERRULES WISDOM”
WHERE ARE YOUR EYES LEADING YOU?
The Bible in a Year “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all.” —Ecclesiastes 2:14 At first glance, Solomon’s statement may sound almost humorous. Where else would a person’s eyes be except in the head? Yet EcclesiastesContinue reading “WHERE ARE YOUR EYES LEADING YOU?”
When Prayer Stands Between Feeling and Reason
DID YOU KNOW There are moments when emotion rises so quickly that it seems to take possession of the whole person. Fear predicts disaster, anger demands immediate action, and grief convinces us that nothing will ever be right again. At other times, we move in the opposite direction. We suppress emotion, calculate every possibility, andContinue reading “When Prayer Stands Between Feeling and Reason”
When Wonder Returns to Worship
As the Day Begins “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.” — John 7:17 Morning Meditation Jesus teaches that spiritual understanding does not begin merely with intellectual curiosity. It begins with a willing heart. The phrase “will do His will” describes someone who isContinue reading “When Wonder Returns to Worship”
Wisdom Knows When to Step Away
The Bible in a Year “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” —Proverbs 27:12 As we journey through the Bible this year, Proverbs continually reminds us that wisdom is more than possessing information. Biblical wisdom teaches us how to recognize what is happening, anticipate whereContinue reading “Wisdom Knows When to Step Away”
When Need Becomes Pressure
In the Life of Christ “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.” — Mark 3:7 When I walk beside Jesus through Mark 3:7–12, I am struck by how little His ministry resembles the peaceful religious scenes we sometimes imagine. Jesus is not sitting undisturbed beside the waterContinue reading “When Need Becomes Pressure”