Author: Administrador

Topics: Dependence; Direction; Guidance; Prayer; Spiritual Perception; Trust References: Psalm 37:3–6; Proverbs 3:5–6 When John Kavanaugh, a renowned ethicist, went to work at “the house of the dying” in Calcutta, he was seeking a clear answer about how to spend the rest of his life. On the first morning there he met Mother Teresa. She … Continue reading “PRAYING
FOR CLARITY”

Topics: Anger; Bitterness; Confession; Hindrances; Repentance; Shame References: Psalm 90:8; Matthew 5:21–22; Ephesians 4:26 During World War II, Zinaida Bragantsova of Ukraine was sitting by the window sewing. Suddenly she heard a whistling noise. Then she was struck by a blast of wind. When she came to, her sewing machine was gone, and there was … Continue reading “THE
BOMB UNDER THE BED”

Topics: Desires; Fulfillment; Happiness; Joy; Peace; Purpose; Satisfaction References: Psalm 42:1; Isaiah 26:3; John 14:6, 27; 15:11 A car is made to run on petrol [gas], and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on himself. He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to … Continue reading “FUELING
HAPPINESS”

Topics: Behavior; Conduct; Depravity; Desires; Ethics; Habits; Human Nature; Lust; Morality; Pleasure; Sexual Immorality; Sinful Nature References: Romans 1:26–27; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9–20; Galatians 5:17–23; Colossians 3:5; Titus 2:11–12 Many people justify a variety of behaviors by calling them “natural.” Here’s what M. Scott Peck says about that: “Calling it natural does not mean it … Continue reading “DOING
THE UNNATURAL”

Topics: Christian Life; Cleansing; Purity; Renewal; Repentance; Sanctification; Spiritual Formation References: 2 Chronicles 29; Psalm 139:23–24; 2 Timothy 2:20–21 On the Style Channel’s Clean House, experts sweep into a cluttered home with the purpose of leaving it more comfortable, attractive, and livable. The experts face the challenges of clothes strewn across the floor, bulging cabinets, … Continue reading “CLEANING
MAKEOVER”

Topics: Abundant Life; Behavior; Conduct; Freedom; Fulfillment; Fullness; Gratitude; Healing; Heart; Hope; Lifestyle; Sanctification References: Ezekiel 11:19; Romans 6:6–11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:5–10; Hebrews 9:13–15; 1 Peter 1:23 From his hospital bed on the eve of open-heart surgery, Pastor Bruce McIver asked his cardiologist, Dr. Dudley Johnson, “Can you fix my heart?” … Continue reading “HEART
FIX”

Topics: Determination; Discipline; Faithfulness; Humility; Imitation of Christ; Obedience; Self-discipline; Self-examination References: Mark 8:34–35; Philippians 1:9–10; James 4:10 Jonathan Edwards, the eighteenth-century revivalist, sat down at age seventeen and penned twenty-one resolutions by which he would live his life. He added to this list until, by his death, he had seventy resolutions. He put this … Continue reading “RESOLUTION
FOLLOW-UP”

Topics: Humility; Justice; Love; Mercy; Righteousness References: Micah 6:8; Matthew 16:24 “The only thing that God requires from us is to enjoy life—and love,” said singer Paul Simon in a February 2001 interview with Rolling Stone. “It doesn’t matter if you accomplish anything. You don’t have to do anything but appreciate that you’re alive. And … Continue reading “WHAT
IS REQUIRED OF US”

Topics: Answers; Childlikeness; Faith; Fathers; God as Father; God’s Sovereignty; Mysteries; Questions; Trust References: Job 38–40; Isaiah 55:8–9; Matthew 18:5; Mark 9:42 Corrie ten Boom, at about age ten, was reading a poem as she and her father traveled by train from Amsterdam to Haarlem. “What does ‘sex sin’ mean?” she asked. She describes what … Continue reading “WHEN
KNOWLEDGE IS TOO HEAVY”

Topics: Bible; Devotional Life; Maturity; Spiritual Growth; Teaching References: 1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 5:14 One spring, our family was driving from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, Florida. As far as the eye could see, orange trees were loaded with fruit. When we stopped for breakfast, I ordered orange juice with my eggs. “I’m sorry,” … Continue reading “SPIRITUALLY
MALNOURISHED”