Run Like You Are In the Race of Your Life! Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. — 1 Corinthians 9:24 The main goal of all believers should be to find God’s plan for their lives and then to go after it with all their might and strength. But most Christians have never even awakened to the fact that God has a special race for them...  Read More

The Lord Will Reckon With You When He Comes! After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.— Matthew 25:19 No one likes to think about judgment, but there is a day in all our futures when we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for our lives. Paul makes this very clear in Second Corinthians 5:9 and 10, where he writes, “Wherefore we labour, t...  Read More

Keep the Devil Where He Belongs — Under Your Feet! And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly....— Romans 16:20 Are you tired of the devil blocking your way and causing all kinds of disruptions and problems in your life, such as problems in your relationships, financial woes, or health problems? How would you like to lift your foot high and then slam it down as hard as you can...  Read More

The Most Essential Weapon In Your Spiritual Arsenal Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.... — Ephesians 6:14 Roman soldiers were dressed in beautiful armor! From head to toe, they were covered with various pieces of weaponry that were designed to protect them and equip them for fighting. But of all these pieces, one piece was more important than all the others. That vital and ...  Read More

Do You Have the Right To Demand Anything From God? If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. — John 15:7 Exactly how bold can you dare to be in prayer? Do you have the right to come into the Presence of God and make certain demands of Him? What are your rights, your limitations, and your boundaries when it comes to the issue of prayer?J...  Read More

How Is Your Memory Working? I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.— 2 Timothy 1:3 When Paul wrote these words, he was sitting in prison in Rome. Having been judged by the courts and sentenced to death, he was living his final days in prison as he awaited the day of his execution. The method of...  Read More

Doing Things Decently and in Order Let all things be done decently and in order. — 1 Corinthians 14:40 How does God want us to worship Him? This is a question that has been asked by different denominations throughout the centuries.In the church I grew up in, I remember what we thought of any church that had “wild” church services. We deemed those people “incorrect” because their services weren’t c...  Read More

Refuse To Ever Let Go Of Your Dream! Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;).— Hebrews 10:23 What do you want God to accomplish through you in this life? What are the dreams you think about every night when your head hits the pillow, or every day when no one else is around? Do you daydream about what you’d like to become or do in the years...  Read More

The Necessary Attitude for Success Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord....— 1 Corinthians 15:58 Today I want to talk to you about an attitude you must possess if you wish to achieve success in your life. If you study the lives of achievers and history-makers, you will find that all of them remarkably share certain attitudes that help...  Read More

Don’t Be A ‘Bone out of Joint’! From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling. — 1 Timothy 1:6 Have you ever been in a situation where you found it hard to submit graciously to the orders of the person in authority over you? Maybe you thought that the orders were unfair or that you had a better idea. Or can you think of a moment when a fellow employee, staff member, or volunt...  Read More

Stick Your Neck Out — Commit Yourself to Someone! And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. — 2 Timothy 2:2 Can you think of an occasion when you were hurt by someone so badly that you were tempted to think, That’s it! I’ll never give my heart to anyone like that ever again! This hurts too much to g...  Read More

Whose Faith Are You Following? That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. — Hebrews 6:12 Let me ask you a question today: Who is the most influential spiritual leader in your life right now? Is there one leader whom you respect and admire so exceptionally that you would want to emulate him and try to be like him in your own life? Is there on...  Read More

Are You Wearing Your Killer Shoes? Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.— Ephesians 6:14,15 If you had seen the shoes of a Roman soldier, you’d have wanted to make sure you didn’t fall in front of him or get in his way where he might accidentally step on you. Those we...  Read More

Payday Is on the Way! Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. — Hebrews 10:35 If you have ever invested time, money, energy, and commitment into God’s Kingdom that no one knew about except you and the Lord, it did not go unnoticed. The Lord saw it all. And according to Hebrews 10:35, He plans on reimbursing you in full!The phrase “recompense of reward” is fr...  Read More

Who Said You Had To Deserve What God Gives You? Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.— 2 Timothy 2:1 Timothy was the pastor of the world’s largest church of that time — the church of Ephesus. It was also the most famous church in the world. Started by Paul, this illustrious congregation included the apostle John as a church member. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a...  Read More

You Are One Of God’s Pillars! Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord....— 1 Corinthians 15:58 Have you ever looked at someone and thought, Wow, that person is such a rock! What does it mean to you when you think of someone as a “rock”? That’s a strong statement, so it would be well worth your time to think it through and decide what cha...  Read More

Why Not Bring Others Into the Project? For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. — Romans 12:3 When a person is a brand-new leader, he often mistakenly assumes that being a leader means he has to know it all. As a result,...  Read More

Hang In There And Don’t Give Up! My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.— James 1:2-4 In the earliest years of the Church, the believers faced unremitting persecution. Every day they were confronted by hostile powers t...  Read More

‘Perilous Times’ In the Last Days This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.— 2 Timothy 3:1 The Bible makes it unmistakably plain that in the last days, the world will be filled with difficulties, the like of which have never before been known in the history of mankind. In fact, the Holy Spirit was so committed to making sure we understand what will occur in the last days tha...  Read More

Relax From the Stresses of Life! And to you who are troubled rest with us.... — 2 Thessalonians 1:7 If you have been under a lot of stress, pressure, and anxiety lately, I think Paul’s words in Second Thessalonians 1:7 are meant just for you! Read carefully, because you’re going to find real encouragement and instruction today that will help you find peace in the midst of trouble.When Paul wrote t...  Read More

A Guaranteed Way To Infuriate the Holy Spirit! Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? — James 4:5 I know you want to please the Spirit of God with your life, so today I want to tell you about something that is guaranteed not to please Him. By knowing this, you can avoid grieving Him and can concentrate your attention on doing those things that...  Read More

It’s Time for You To Start Acting Like God! Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.— Ephesians 5:1 Have you ever been in a situation that made you so uncomfortable, you wished you could turn and run, but you knew you had to stay? Did you throw a fit and cry in front of everyone, alerting them to the fact that you were upset? Or did you speak to yourself, telling your emotions to get a ...  Read More

Does Jesus Find You To Be Therapeutic, Refreshing, or Disgusting? So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.— Revelation 3:16 In Russia, it is a tradition for people to visit the sauna. People especially love to do this in the middle of the winter. This tradition is hundreds of years old, dating back to the time when people didn’t have running wa...  Read More

Laziness and Slothfulness— Don’t Allow Either in Your Life! That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. — Hebrews 6:12 I’ll never forget the day when the Lord suddenly spoke to my heart as I was praying and shocked me by what He told me. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Rick, if you’re going to do what I’ve called you to do, it’s time for you to...  Read More