Knowing & Being Known

It’s easy as women to belittle what we possess and what we can do. At times, we can undersell and undermine our contributions. Society's labels and painful experiences have subconsciously informed us of how far we can go and has placed limits on us. But it ought not to be. God desires to use women like never before in this time. When God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage into the promised land, Moses was quick to present all the reasons…

We’ve got to remember, folks, that no matter how promising an idea sounds, if God’s not in it, you don’t want to be in it either. This is true of a relationship, career change, buying or selling a house, even something as simple as a vacation. We only want what Jesus is in; we only want what our Father is giving. The key test for this moment is not only “I give you my allegiance, Jesus” but also “I only want what you are doing.” And…

As Mark opens up his account of Jesus’ ministry, he portrays the Savior on a healing spree, driving out demons from a man in the synagogue and healing Peter’s mother-in-law at her home in Capernaum. That same evening, “the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many.” Not surprisingly, the next morning the disciples rushed to Jesus and said, “Everyone is looking for you!;…

Have you ever considered that fingerprints are an amazing example of how much God cares for us? Each of us is born with a certain arrangement of arches, loops, and whorls on our hands, and they don’t change as we grow or age. They are also exclusive. Think about that for a moment: Out of roughly eight billion people on earth, no two of us have the same fingerprint. We’ve each been uniquely created by God. What’s more, He has a singular plan for every life .…

At an Alpha Conference, someone handed me a scrap of paper with a note describing what had happened to her friend: ‘Sue (who was not a Christian) was attending a rehab clinic for people with severe respiratory problems. She had a chronic condition (COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that was getting progressively worse. The clinic meets at our church building. She arrived for her clinic, but there was no one there. (She had got the wrong date!) She waited…

Is it not true that for most of us who call ourselves Christians, there is no real experience? We have substituted theological ideas for an arresting encounter; we are full of religious notions, but our greatest weakness is that for our hearts, there is no one there. Whatever else it embraces, true Christian experience must always include a genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow, a reflection of reality, a cheap copy of an original once enjoyed…

Set aside time each day for meditating on God’s Word: Listen for His voice, slowly digest what you read, talk to the Lord, ask Him questions, and apply what you learn. Don’t just read the Bible—study it, perhaps starting with a verse or short passage. Some of you may say, “I’ve never been into that.” My advice: Get into it! The deep things of God don’t just drop into our brains; they are placed there through diligent study. Hunger…

What does it mean to have a covenant with God? A covenant is a spiritually binding relationship ordained by God through which He advances His kingdom. It’s the mechanism through which He accomplishes His purposes, goals and agenda. It’s an arrangement of a relationship, not merely an official contract. When you are aligned with God in His covenant, you are privy to His secrets. He lets you in on things others do not know. If you’re married, you know what it&rsquo…

Starting something new can be difficult. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a big move, new beginnings come with great uncertainty and require mental, physical, and spiritual preparation. Thankfully, believers have everything they need to face the unknown. Before the crucifixion, Jesus promised the disciples wouldn’t be left alone—the Holy Spirit would come to live within them. In fact, being indwelled by God’s Spirit would be better than having…