Daily Challenges Archive

Hope is a great gift that we receive as followers of God. His promises—the things He has made clear are in store for His followers—help us deal with the trials and challenges of everyday life. They also help us deal with the loss that inevitably b...

When I picture the righteous not being uprooted, I immediately think of John chapter 15. It is in this chapter that Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches connected to Him. The idea that anyone could uproot Jesus is so ridiculous it...

The Hebrew word for righteousness in this verse means moral rightness, justice, or uprightness. It is contrasted with wealth and is what brings deliverance. I’m a big fan of justice, and I’m also a believer in grace. However, living a just, uprigh...

The Bible is full of great stories of lives lived with integrity—not perfection, but integrity. Joseph, when facing incredible temptation and challenge, walked with unwavering integrity. Daniel, in the midst of a very foreign and unwelcoming envir...

In the early days of social media, I made the mistake of believing that some people wanted dialogue. I quickly found out that was not the case, and I stopped attempting it. That was years ago. Social media now is simply an outlet for sharing the d...

Who do you trust to speak clear, honest, unvarnished truth into your life story? I have a friend who starts every morning with Our Daily Bread devotions. That’s not a bad place to start. I also have family members who no spend time with Dr. Billy ...

The following verses talk about how we are to internalize and hold firmly to God’s truth. This is not just about memorizing Scripture; it is about making it a part of who you are. We see this when the Bible tells us that God’s Word is “living and ...

The truths in Scripture go deep into the eternal. They explore the depths of the heart of God. As I sat in church yesterday with a couple of my grandchildren, I watched the 12-year-old focused and taking notes as the pastor preached. Later, I aske...

Staying quiet is difficult for many people. I’m on that list, I’m afraid. I have gotten better over the years, but early in my ministry I spent far too much time going back to people and apologizing for things I said that should never have left my...

I spent time yesterday reviewing goals and setting plans with my accountability partner to be sure we are walking the path God has laid out for us. It involved clearing out some activities that did not enhance our walk with the Lord. It was also a...

Independent thinking is often admired in our society. It can be seen as a character strength. I often encouraged my children when they were younger not to follow the crowd, to think for themselves, and to make decisions based on wisdom. I think mo...

A number of friends have shared that they plan to improve their financial situation this year. I hope to as well. There’s nothing wrong with that goal, as long as our desire is to use it to help us make a greater impact for the Kingdom. However, o...