Discipleship

We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.

I once had a pastor say, “Ron, you’re a giant killer!” He encouraged me to kill giants for the Kingdom of God. It changed the trajectory of my life. I possibly wouldn’t be serving the church as I am today without those words. They came at just the right time in my life.

In the sensitive moments soon after a tragedy, it is important we remember as churches we exist to live out the mission of Jesus to seek and save that which is lost.

Chapman encouraged Christians to seek Jesus, because life apart from him will lead hopelessness and utter darkness.

Proud, presumptuous people always think they deserve better. If the day goes well, they don’t notice. If it doesn’t, it’s a great disappointment, and someone else is always to blame.

“Cast your cares on the Lord because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

You see, God is good whether we believe it or not. God—and God alone—is the final court of arbitration. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true” (Romans 3:4 NLT).

Choosing to rejoice, by rehearsing reasons to be happy and grateful while suffering, affirms trust in God.