Victorious Living
December 25, 2020
I like to call you Beloved because It is who you are—you are Loved not from afar, but near, You […]
December 24, 2020
Like Bethlehem, out of your life will come surprise blessings. Feeling small? Remember Bethlehem. Feeling insignificant? Remember the place […]
December 23, 2020
I bless you to see what you believe. God wanted the shepherds not only to believe in Jesus— He […]
December 22, 2020
You aren’t confined by your past. You aren’t defined by your failures. You can be refined by your mistakes, […]
December 21, 2020
You’re near to God today because God is near to you. I bless you to know Him today as Immanuel— […]
December 18, 2020
YES! to all God’s promises in your life. YES! to every impossible thing He has planned for you. YES! to […]
December 17, 2020
You are God’s vessel for the impossible. Alone, you can’t. With God, you can. When confronted with glory And […]
December 16, 2020
“You have found favor with God.” Gabriel’s message isn’t just for Mary— Now, in Christ, it’s who you are. […]
December 15, 2020
As you contemplate the treasures of God’s grace, you discover more wealth every day. I’ve always loved the way […]
December 14, 2020
God is committed to getting you to your destiny—His light still shines. The magi were wealthy scholars who saw […]
December 11, 2020
The Good News of Christ’s birth was personal to the shepherds and to YOU. I’m glad Rick Warren’s famous, […]
December 10, 2020
We need to put the “Merry” back into “Merry Christmas.” Are you ready for some good news? You’re […]
December 9, 2020
You’re Jesus’ co-heir and co-laborer. In old English, “God rest you merry, gentlemen” literally means, “May God keep you glad, […]
December 8, 2020
If the Lord is committed to you, it means you’re a keeper! My blessing refrain this advent is “God […]
December 7, 2020
We need not fear the evils of this world because God, in Jesus Christ, has overcome the world. Our […]
December 4, 2020
Your life isn’t defined by your predicaments—it’s defined by your position in Christ. When Gabriel visited Mary, the young […]
December 3, 2020
In the midst of pandemic and pain, God brings tidings of comfort and joy. As my son and daughter-in-law […]
December 2, 2020
God wants to keep your heart full of joy. The classic Christmas carol’s title is usually punctuated incorrectly and […]
December 1, 2020
Maybe it’s not the circumstances that are holding you back—maybe it’s the way you’re seeing things. Are you ready for […]
November 30, 2020
You can rejoice today because, if for no other reason, God made this day! With my heart saturated with […]
November 27, 2020
Gratitude isn’t mushy—it’s mighty. Anyone who celebrated America’s Thanksgiving holiday yesterday put into practice a spiritual principle of unspeakable […]
November 26, 2020
There is always, ALWAYS, a way to be grateful. As we celebrate Thanksgiving today in America, it is under the […]
November 25, 2020
When you remember God’s past blessings, you activate your faith in His goodness today. How we remember yesterday determines how […]
November 24, 2020
You’re blessed beyond belief—literally! I’m delighted to spend these days not just offering a devotional thought but sharing a […]
November 23, 2020
When we are most grateful, we are most happy. As we look forward to the Groundhog Day release of […]
November 20, 2020
Jesus wants you full of joy. In the English Standard Version of the Bible, the words “joy,” “rejoice,” or […]
November 19, 2020
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. In our family, we have a phrase […]
November 18, 2020
A joyful heart is always good medicine. We aren’t transformed by our commitments to be more productive—we’re changed by […]
November 17, 2020
There is no rule against rejoicing—no matter what! As we look forward to the release of my new book, […]
November 16, 2020
The joy of the Lord makes you strong. In glad anticipation of the February 2021 release of my new […]
November 13, 2020
God is ready to clothe you with joyful praise. Today’s blessing is rooted in Isaiah’s prophecy of the soon […]
November 12, 2020
Because God celebrates, so can you. Today’s blessing is grounded in the refrain of Genesis 1: “And God saw […]
November 11, 2020
God has made you for joy—it’s your design. In the aftermath of a contentious political election, you might feel […]
November 10, 2020
God still parts Red Seas. As we look forward to the release of my new book, The Power to […]
November 9, 2020
God’s blessing isn’t far away—it is here, now. In joyful anticipation of the February, 2021 release of my new […]
November 6, 2020
God’s peace can protect your heart from the enemy’s onslaught. I’m overjoyed with anticipation of the release of my […]
November 5, 2020
Jesus blessed his disciples to receive His own peace. As we look forward to the February, 2021 release of my […]
November 4, 2020
Amidst the troubles of pandemic and the turmoil of politics, you can be still and know that the Lord is […]
November 3, 2020
You can love and bless a person with whom you totally disagree. We all are facing two elections today. One […]
November 2, 2020
Though tomorrow’s election is important, it is not ultimate. You can pray, vote, and share your voice without becoming worried […]
October 30, 2020
While there may be some sinful patterns passed down from your forebears, there is something much greater that has been […]
October 29, 2020
When you lose what you always thought you needed in order to be fulfilled, you find out that God was […]
October 28, 2020
When you fall or fail and are still loved, shame lifts! Jeremiah prophesied: “Every man is stupid and without knowledge; […]
October 27, 2020
The New Covenant isn’t a modified Old Covenant. It’s altogether new. Thankfully, I was taught early in my Christian life […]
October 26, 2020
Christ didn’t come to give us a modified Old Covenant – He ushered in a New Covenant! It is utterly […]
October 23, 2020
There’s a cure for the “hardening of the oughteries” – the grace of God. To adapt the title of the […]
October 22, 2020
The Gospel isn’t about what you “ought to” do. It’s about what Jesus has already done. When my daughter Abby […]
October 21, 2020
You can’t control people and you can’t make them change, but you can be used by God to help them […]
October 20, 2020
It’s not wrong to want someone to change. If you love someone, you want him/her to grow. To grow means […]
October 19, 2020
God isn’t finished with you yet! After Elijah’s remarkable defeat of 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel, you’d have […]
October 16, 2020
God has a journey for you still to take. Even if you’ve reached a great pinnacle, He has more in […]
October 15, 2020
Jesus isn’t only the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world; He’s also the scapegoat who has born […]
October 14, 2020
In Christ, you’re no orphan. You’re an heir! Years ago, parishioners Ernie and Ginnie developed a unique ministry in the […]
October 13, 2020
True, godly conviction is a sweet gift of liberty guiding you back to the Father. In Jesus’ famous parable of […]
October 12, 2020
When God corrects you, He doesn’t shame you; He draws you to His heart. Jesus’ famous parable of the “prodigal” […]
October 9, 2020
God doesn’t expose your shame—He covers it. My spiritual father, Dudley Hall, in his shame-busting book Grace Works, tells about […]
October 8, 2020
You don’t have to let shame keep stinging you! I was young, serving my first congregation as best I knew […]
October 7, 2020
If you have experienced dishonor and shame, you can forgive and you can be healed. Every wound can be healed. […]
October 6, 2020
Your wounds can be healed! Sometimes, when your offender hasn’t apologized, it’s healing to receive a confession from another person. […]
October 5, 2020
The cycle of shame is always, and only, broken by the Word of grace. In John 8, Jesus rescues a […]
October 2, 2020
When you hear Jesus speak, shame falls to the ground. In John 8, we read the story of a woman […]
October 1, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? Christ came to bear your shame – so you don’t have to! Shame […]
September 30, 2020
Though the whole world might be quick to say, “Shame on you,” and “You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” […]
September 29, 2020
If you want your prayer life to be a joy rather than a chore, all you have to do is […]
September 28, 2020
The love of God is the power of God. So, when you have God’s love, you have God’s power. […]
September 25, 2020
God wants to grant you the desires of your heart. All you have to do is get in touch with […]
September 24, 2020
By God’s grace, your desires can become what God already desires! We’re learning that there are many ways to “pray […]
September 23, 2020
If Christ intercedes for you and He lives in you, then you have an ongoing prayer partner in Jesus! […]
September 22, 2020
You can have the greatest prayer partner imaginable – Christ Himself! As we continue to explore a rich variety […]
September 21, 2020
When we listen to God, we know what He wants and, when we know what He wants, our prayers become […]
September 18, 2020
Prayer isn’t just about you talking to God – it’s about God talking to you! “To him the gatekeeper opens. […]
September 17, 2020
Your prayer life can flourish with power simply by learning to pray God’s promises. We’re learning about a variety […]
September 16, 2020
Every time you pray God’s Word, you’re praying in the Spirit. If you want to bring power into your prayer […]
September 15, 2020
Praying in the power of the Spirit isn’t a privilege for a few, extra-mature Christians; praying in the Spirit is […]
September 14, 2020
The power of your prayer life isn’t rooted in your eloquence or even your determination; the power of your prayer […]
September 11, 2020
We needn’t succumb to spiritual malaise amidst global pandemic. God is here to wake us up. In Acts 12, […]
September 10, 2020
Peace isn’t the absence of battles—it is the presence of well-being in the midst of the conflicts. When King […]
September 9, 2020
Peace is more than the absence of conflict—it is the presence of well-being in the midst of conflict. In […]
September 8, 2020
God’s glorious purposes were established before you were born! No matter what you face today, you can be assured that […]
September 7, 2020
If a revelation of Jesus Christ was powerful enough to transform the leading persecutor of first century Christians into the […]
September 4, 2020
When you feel like your best is not enough, Jesus’ best is more than enough. The malaise of pandemic has […]
September 3, 2020
You have nothing to prove to your Heavenly Father! He loves you utterly already. Amidst the exhaustion of a tiresome […]
September 2, 2020
Though the stress and isolation of pandemic can bring spiritual malaise, there is authentic energy for life in Christ. Everyone […]
September 1, 2020
God doesn’t invite you into religion—He invites you into relationship. Amidst the wearisome pandemic, we’ve been exploring the source of […]
August 31, 2020
God created life in the beginning, and He offers rejuvenated life every day. An older saint recently quipped, “I’m retired. […]
August 28, 2020
Though rebellion and religion deaden us, relationship with God energizes us. It seems we all have something in common during […]
August 27, 2020
The Gospel cures the biggest energy drains of life. During pandemic, we’ve shifted our language. Chit chat seems inappropriate […]
August 26, 2020
Like Daniel who emerged triumphant from the lions’ den by God’s grace, you’re certain to emerge from your trials because […]
August 25, 2020
As God shut the mouths of the lions in the den with Daniel, He silences the roar of the lion, […]
August 24, 2020
You’re holy unto the Lord. Nothing can change your sacred status in Christ. You’re His. You’re set apart. You’re one […]
August 21, 2020
As our study of Daniel reaches Chapter 5, we come upon a gruesome scene. In the middle of Babylonian King […]
August 20, 2020
Christ’s shed blood is a double cure—first for your sin and then for your shame. When Shadrach, Meshach, and […]
August 19, 2020
When the Babylonian tyrant threw Daniel’s friends into the fiery furnace, they not only emerged unharmed – they didn’t even […]
August 18, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? When the Babylonian king turned the heat up on Daniel’s friends, it […]
August 17, 2020
God has a way of making the enemy’s evil tactics backfire against him! The story of the miracle in […]
August 14, 2020
If you ever feel like a foreigner in your own culture, be not dismayed. You’re a citizen of a different […]
August 13, 2020
If you ever feel like a foreigner in your own culture, be not dismayed. You’re a citizen of a different […]
August 12, 2020
Because of the Gospel, wisdom and power are inseparably linked in every Christian’s life. In Daniel chapter 2, Daniel praises […]
August 11, 2020
Because of the Gospel, wisdom and power are linked in every Christian’s life. We need both intelligence and power in […]
August 10, 2020
No one has authority to name you – but God. When Daniel was exiled to Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar assigned a […]
August 7, 2020
No one has authority to name you – but God. When Daniel was exiled to Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar immersed Daniel […]
August 6, 2020
Others can’t label you – only God can! Daniel was exiled to Babylon. As part of the Babylonian indoctrination program, […]
August 5, 2020
We might be aliens in this world—but we’re blessed aliens. In these uncertain times, many Christians are thinking more […]
August 4, 2020
If you ever feel like the culture has changed so much that you’re like an alien – take heart. God […]
August 3, 2020
The world has changed so much that it might seem sometimes like you are a foreigner in your own culture. […]
July 31, 2020
Jesus is the spiritual gardener of your life. We conclude a month of inspiration taken from the lives of […]
July 30, 2020
Jesus has suffered what you suffer. Jesus understands. As we near the end of our weeks studying the lives […]
July 29, 2020
The cross, in all its gruesome reality, is evidence of your worth to God. After learning all month about […]
July 28, 2020
You have the sign of crimson over your life in Christ and, thus, God is moved on your behalf. Joshua’s […]
July 27, 2020
God keeps His covenant promises. No matter what. Joshua’s conquest of Jericho is shocking in more than one way. God’s […]
July 24, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? The Gospel is simple. It’s endlessly deep. But oh, so simple. Argentinian pastor […]
July 23, 2020
God’s saving, healing power is free – totally, completely free. As we continue to find inspiration this month in the […]
July 22, 2020
Up! The Lord gives you grace to wake up … to rise up … to move up! Today’s text: “And […]
July 21, 2020
The Word of God goes with you wherever you go. If you find your mind confused by the barrage of […]
July 20, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? You don’t have to run from your deepest desires; you can take them […]
July 17, 2020
The Gospel that seems too good to be true is true! An affluent woman of Shunem took such delight in […]
July 16, 2020
We’re never transformed by conquering our fleshly appetites with self-will; we’re transformed when our attention is directed by beauty and […]
July 15, 2020
God came in Jesus Christ to save fools who didn’t grasp their own folly! Today’s text: “When Abigail saw David, […]
July 14, 2020
The ancient serpent, called the Accuser, sought to destroy the “seed of the woman,” but he couldn’t. Christ, by His […]
July 13, 2020
You can always say no to the devil. Today’s Text: “Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, […]
July 10, 2020
You don’t need to labor for love. God’s love is free. Utterly. Completely. Free. Today’s text: “And she conceived again […]
July 9, 2020
There is a revelation of love in Christ that overwhelms any lack of love in this world. Jacob loved Rachel. […]
July 8, 2020
Though once you were a spiritual orphan, in Christ you are a spiritual heir. And your inheritance is vast. When […]
July 7, 2020
When you accept Christ, you become the beneficiary of more than forgiveness for your sins; you become the recipient of […]
July 6, 2020
No sin of the past can keep you from God’s love! Authors often use the literary device of irony to […]
July 3, 2020
July 2, 2020
God is a “Yes” God, not a “No” God. Contrary to the stereotypes of today’s culture, God loves freedom. […]
July 1, 2020
God wants you to have a kind of freedom that is much deeper than the world’s idea of freedom. His […]
June 30, 2020
Your deepest, truest identity is not rooted in what you do or how you love others—it’s rooted in what Christ […]
June 29, 2020
You are the “beloved.” Today’s Text: “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, […]
June 26, 2020
There is a deep serenity that the heart can experience in ways that the mind cannot comprehend. In Philippians […]
June 25, 2020
Gratitude leads to peace. Paul put it plainly, “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and […]
June 24, 2020
The Gospel gives you power to persevere. It’s what Paul spoke about in Philippians 3 when he said: “But […]
June 23, 2020
The Gospel doesn’t make you lazy – it energizes you toward a destiny. Paul, imprisoned at the time of […]
June 22, 2020
The abundant life of the Christian in no way depends upon the believer’s own righteousness or religiosity; it depends, in […]
June 19, 2020
Righteousness comes from Jesus plus nothing. In fact, the less you try to add your own righteousness to Christ’s finished […]
June 18, 2020
Problems – you aren’t called to promote them; it doesn’t help to pretend they aren’t there; and you can’t prevent […]
June 17, 2020
You can’t prevent all the problems of life, but you can praise God in the midst of them. I […]
June 16, 2020
You are called to work out your salvation but not to work at it or for it. Lovers of […]
June 15, 2020
You never need to work for your salvation, but you can work out your salvation. Today’s Text: “Therefore, my […]
June 12, 2020
Humility isn’t seeing yourself as less; it’s seeing God as more. Today’s Text: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or […]
June 11, 2020
Christian humility isn’t self-disparagement; it is self-forgetfulness. In the opening verses of the second chapter of Philippians, Paul invites […]
June 10, 2020
Christian humility isn’t self-disparagement; it is self-forgetfulness. In the opening verses of the second chapter of Philippians, Paul invites […]
June 9, 2020
If Paul’s imprisonment could serve a beautiful purpose, so can the adversity of a global pandemic. Paul had no […]
June 8, 2020
God’s love for you isn’t merely intellectual. God loves you with deep affection. See the passion and emotion in […]
June 5, 2020
God doesn’t just love you theoretically; He loves you personally. Christ has affection for you. Notice how Paul describes […]
June 4, 2020
There is a good work that is going on in you and God is the One who is doing it. […]
June 3, 2020
God has done a marvelous thing in you, but He isn’t finished yet. Paul’s message to the Philippians assures […]
June 2, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? Though the pandemic has unsettled all our circumstances, joy doesn’t arise from […]
June 1, 2020
In the words of author Barbara Johnson, “pain is inevitable; misery is optional.” I think the Apostle Paul would […]
May 29, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? Faith isn’t trying to drum up mental certainty about future events; faith […]
May 28, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? God wants to use your eyes to connect with the world in […]
May 27, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? With the eyes of Jesus, you can see the people in your […]
May 26, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? If you suddenly find yourself in a greater challenge than you originally expected, […]
May 25, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? When you rehearse God’s presence in the past, you’ll find fresh faith […]
May 22, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? Since the 15th century, the Japanese have made pottery repair an art form. […]
May 21, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? God never lets the rubble of your life go to waste—He builds […]
May 20, 2020
Are you ready for some good news? As ancient cities were rebuilt on the mound of ruins of the former […]
May 19, 2020
God is a Father who longs to restore what has been broken, lost or destroyed. Many people have lost […]
May 18, 2020
When Jesus gives you an assignment, it isn’t law, it’s grace. After a night of fruitless toil on the […]
May 15, 2020
Jesus’ commands aren’t burdens—they’re blessings. My spiritual father, Dudley Hall, taught me years ago that inside of every divine […]
May 14, 2020
When we feel tired and empty, Jesus gives us new vision. Luke’s marvelous story of the miraculous catch of […]
May 13, 2020
If you’re empty, Jesus is near. Luke’s well-known narrative of the miraculous catch of fish begins with empty boats […]
May 12, 2020
Jesus knows where the fish are! I never was much of a fisherman. During my childhood days, I’d […]
May 11, 2020
Jesus came to face the most insurmountable storm of all—human guilt. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the harrowing […]
May 8, 2020
Storms are temporary because God’s power is permanent. When you shouldn’t be afraid of a storm but are, Jesus […]
May 7, 2020
Maybe Jesus asked this question because He was genuinely curious. When you have little faith, Jesus doesn’t condemn you—He […]
May 6, 2020
Here’s one of the strangest questions Jesus ever asked. When Jesus asks, “Why are you afraid?” it isn’t because […]
April 30, 2020
When you see others through the eyes of Christ, you’ll discover them to be “everlasting splendors” who Jesus invites into […]
September 20, 2024
Here’s a word for the weary, A blessing for the burned out. It’s the invitation of Jesus: “Are you […]
September 19, 2024
I bless you to be Like a tree Planted by streams of water That yields its fruit In its season, […]
September 18, 2024
I bless your spirit To have hope, Real hope, The biblical grandeur of hope. Hope. Not wishful thinking. Not pie […]
September 17, 2024
You have an invitation— A standing invitation: “Come to me,” Jesus beckons. What is the qualification For those invited Into […]
September 16, 2024
Though the shadows linger, You are not engulfed In the dead of night— No, “the night is far gone” (Rom. […]
September 13, 2024
It’s hard to corral A cowardly thought. It’s tough to tame An unwelcome worry. It’s easier to redirect Your mind— […]
September 12, 2024
I bless The fruit of the Spirit In you To grow And flourish With spring-like spontaneity. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. […]
September 11, 2024
May you increasingly discover The BLISS of being a SLAVE Of righteousness (Romans 6:18). A SLAVE? Paul, the proclaimer of […]
September 10, 2024
Be assured, Child of God, You are going to live forever. God doesn’t throw broken stuff away— He restores it. […]
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