Character Doesn’t Change Overnight—And Here’s Why

Faith/Spiritual

Character Doesn’t Change Overnight—And Here’s WhyEver wonder why God forgives a person who puts their faith in Him and wipes their slate clean but doesn’t instantly change their character?

God doesn’t automatically transform a person’s character because He expects them to do the demanding work it takes to follow Christ.

The life of a follower of Christ is often depicted in the Bible as a field to cultivate:

Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you. — Hosea 10:12, NLT

Likewise, a follower of Christ must work hard to grow spiritually and become fruitful. (more…)

12 Steps to Growing Your Faith

Faith/Spiritual

12 Steps to Growing Your Faith

  1. Confess any shortcomings.
    Confession means “to agree with” God what is true about one’s condition. One must stop blaming others and excusing themselves. When an individual asks God for forgiveness, “He is faithful and just to forgive” them (1 John 1:9, NLT). Only when someone confesses that they are stuck will they begin to get unstuck and start to grow in their faith.
  2. Admit any failures.
    No one can save themselves. One must come to the end of themselves, admit their failures, and say, “God, I’ve failed in my attempts to change and to get better.” But if someone tries to overcome their problems by willpower alone, they will fail. Instead of trying harder, they must admit they are weak, and then they’ll find strength in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says Christ’s “power works best in weakness.”
  3. Get help from God. (more…)

Hope Found!

Faith/Spiritual

Hope Found!If anyone was going through a season of loss and feeling hopeless, it was Joshua. After decades of surviving in a desert, the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. Then their courageous leader, Moses, died. After he died, Joshua was left by himself to pick up the pieces. He had an entire nation of people to lead. To help Joshua, the Lord gave him two biblical principles. These principles helped Joshua thousands of years ago—they can still help you today.

You Are Stronger Than You Think
Compared to a great leader like Moses, Joshua felt alone and weak. But the Lord spoke to Joshua, giving him courage. (more…)