Motivation

Spring: Fresh zeal and much planting mark springtime. For the memorizing Christian, this may be a renewed conviction that you need Scripture in your heart. Perhaps you have a new set of verses, a new goal, or a new friend to recite with. Energy is high and you plant verse seeds regularly and ...

After a long week at work, few things sound better than sleeping in and enjoying a lazy Saturday. But imagine instead being awakened by the rude sound of your alarm clock. As you roll over and see the time -- 7:00 a.m. -- you groggily remember you were planning to exercise this morning. Your first ...

Does the busyness of daily life feel overwhelming? If so, this might come as a surprise: research shows that Americans have more free time now than they did 50 years ago. Modern inventions and household appliances have simplified housework, and we work less overall than our parents ...

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Heb. 12:2) We live in the Information Age. For most of us, this means facing a near-constant bombardment of news, phone calls, emails, text messages, and advertisements. Can you relate? Surviving this inundation of media requires saying ...

Memorizing Scripture does not by itself make a person Christ-like or spiritual. In fact, memory work is the easy part. Many actors, singers, and scholars can quote God’s Word precisely and even forcefully. But that is not the same thing as knowing God. Allow me to repeat: memorizing is the ...

"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You..." (Psalm 63:1) We’re all creatures of habit. Whether you’re making breakfast, hanging laundry, or driving to work, certain parts of your day are so routine they require little thought or attention. That’s why you sometimes can’t remember ...

  "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things..." (1 Corinthians 9:25) In 2008, the world watched in amazement as Michael Phelps made Olympic history. One of the most talented swimmers of all time, Phelps won 8 medals just like he'd done 4 years earlier. But this ...

Every person you meet fights a hard battle. The smiling friend with whom you just had lunch faces fiery trials that would break your heart if you knew them all. But God’s Word enables us to come through the fire. A heart nourished on words of truth acquires an asbestos-like quality, which fire ...

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 What is the measure of a life well-lived? If you browse your local library for books on professional success, financial success, marital success, or academic success, you’ll find no shortage of ...

"I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts." (Psalm 119:94) Years ago, a hobbyist chicken farmer in Missouri was asked, "If I start raising chickens, when can I expect to start making some money?” The chicken farmer simply smiled and said, "You don't raise chickens to make money. ...