Spiritual Maturity

Following Jesus isn't just learning about Him - it’s becoming like Him. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to reshape the deepest parts of who you are, surrendering your pride, desires, fears, and ambitions to the authority of Christ.

When you first place your faith in Jesus, you're justified - declared righteous in His sight. But that's only the beginning. Next comes sanctification: the lifelong process of being transformed into His image. It touches every single corner of your life:

- How you respond when you're wronged.

- How you handle temptation when nobody's watching.

- How you view money, status, suffering, and even your enemies.

Jesus didn't come simply to improve your old nature - He came to recreate you entirely. The more you walk with Him, the more His character replaces your own: love displaces hatred, humility breaks pride, and forgiveness cures bitterness. What once controlled you loses its grip.

This process is slow and often painful, requiring deep conviction, repentance, and daily surrender. But take heart - transformation isn't a burden you carry alone, it's a supernatural work the Spirit performs within you.

The Christian life isn't about trying harder to "act like Jesus." It’s about abiding in Him so deeply that His life naturally begins to flow through yours. True spiritual maturity isn't measured by how much you know about Christ, but by how much you resemble Him.

"And we all... are being transformed into the same image

from one degree of glory to another."

2 Corinthians 3:18

- David Delfeld

Provided by "I Am With You Always"

Blessed Are Those Who Believe

Thomas wanted proof. He wanted to see the wounds, touch the scars, and remove every doubt before he’d believe. But Jesus turned Thomas's hesitation into a blessing declared across centuries:

“Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.”

John 20:29

That blessing includes us.

We’ve never watched Jesus calm a storm, raise the dead, or step out of an empty tomb. Yet through the testimony of Scripture, the witness of the apostles, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, we’ve come to know Him deeply.

Biblical faith isn't blind faith. It’s grounded trust in a Savior who’s revealed Himself through real history - fulfilling prophecy, transforming lives, and conquering death. While the world says, "Seeing is believing," Jesus flips the script: Believing is blessed.

If you’re walking through a season where you can't see what God is doing, take heart. Faith doesn't mean having every answer figured out - it means trusting the One who holds them.

One day, our faith will finally become sight. Until then, blessed are those who believe.

- David Delfeld

Provided by "I Am With You Always"

When We Run Out, Jesus Steps In

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you have done everything you know to do, but the situation still feels impossible?

A place where you have prayed, waited, and hoped, but you are still standing in the middle of uncertainty? Maybe you feel like you have run out of answers. Maybe you feel like the joy, strength, opportunity, or hope you once carried is running low. But the story of Jesus turning water into wine in John 2 reminds us of a powerful truth: when we run out, Jesus steps in.

At the wedding in Cana, a problem appeared that seemed impossible to solve. The celebration was running out of wine, and there was nothing the people could do to fix it. But Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew exactly where to turn. She went to Jesus because she knew that what was impossible for people was possible for Him. Mary had faith before she had evidence. She did not know how Jesus would solve the problem or what the miracle would look like, but she knew that Jesus was able.

That is what faith does. Faith does not require us to understand every detail. Faith requires us to trust the One who holds every detail. Mary’s instruction to the servants was simple: “Do whatever He tells you.” Those words were not just instructions for the servants at the wedding but they are instructions for every believer today.

Sometimes God’s greatest miracles begin with our smallest acts of obedience. The servants did not see the miracle immediately. They filled the jars with water first. They obeyed before they understood. They moved before they saw the outcome. Then Jesus did what only Jesus could do, He took something ordinary and made it extraordinary.

Prayer: Steady

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

Psalm 26:3 (NKJV)

Lord, you know me better than anyone else does. You have searched my thoughts, examined every part of my life, and refined my heart. It is only by your mercy that I stand righteous. As long as I keep my eyes fixed on you, I will never stray.

I want the world to know I am intensely devoted to you, choosing to walk before you in honor. Your faithfulness steadies me. Your holiness reminds me that apart from you, I am nothing. I approach your throne with songs of thanksgiving, awed by the miraculous ways you've changed my life. I owe everything to you.

Look at what you've done for me - I'm not tempted by wickedness and have no desire to hang out with deceptive, conniving people. Establish me as one of your innocent ones, so I will never deviate from this remarkable path of faith. In your glorious presence, I have found my home. Thank you for your love.

Excerpt from "Prayers On Fire" by Brenna Stockman

In A Single Season...

Never underestimate what God can do in a single season.

We often assume that because our circumstances have remained the same for a long time, they will always remain that way. We begin measuring God’s faithfulness by our current reality instead of His eternal promises. Yet throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds us that He is not limited by timelines, human expectations, or impossible situations. The God who created the heavens and the earth is more than able to change the direction of a life in ways no one could have imagined.

One season can look ordinary, and the next can become the very season that changes everything.

David understood this better than most. Before he was ever known as Israel’s greatest king, he was simply a shepherd caring for sheep in the fields. His days were filled with responsibilities that seemed unnoticed by everyone except God. While others saw an overlooked young man, God saw a king in preparation. The wilderness was not a delay to God’s plan. It was the classroom where David learned courage, dependence, humility, and faith. Every lion he defeated and every bear he faced was preparing him for a giant that would one day stand before him. Then, in God’s perfect timing, everything changed. The shepherd became the king.

David did not promote himself into the palace. God brought him there.

Ruth’s story reminds us that faithfulness in small places is never wasted. She was a widow living with uncertainty, gathering leftover grain behind harvesters simply to survive. By the world’s standards, her future appeared limited. She wasn’t searching for influence or wealth. She was simply choosing obedience one day at a time, faithfully caring for Naomi and trusting the God of Israel. Yet the very field where she gathered scraps became the field she would one day possess. God transformed a place of survival into a place of inheritance.

Only God can write stories like that.

Mordecai experienced another remarkable reversal. For years he faithfully served without recognition. He sat outside the king’s gate while others enjoyed positions of influence inside the palace. There were moments when it probably seemed as though his faithfulness had gone unnoticed. Yet God was working behind scenes Mordecai could not see. At exactly the right moment, the king remembered him. The man who once waited outside the palace gates was suddenly welcomed inside with honor. What looked like years of silence became the foundation for an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: Conquering Fear

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV)

You did it, Lord! You have conquered fear and I will never be held in its clutches again. As long as I am with you, I can face anything. I am brave. I am an overcomer. Fear will no longer dictate my life. And even if I have to remind myself of these truths, every moment of every day, I will no longer allow myself to be its victim.

When I stand in the midst of the unknown, faith will be the posture of my heart, even if my legs are shaking. Step by step I will walk into a life of freedom and never look back. I will trust you and release my concerns into your hands. Instead of fearing the challenges, I will thank you for them - they remind me to continually look to you.

I choose a life of victory, where you have full control. I won't be afraid of the things I don't understand. You are here. You are faithful. I am free!

Excerpt from "Prayers On Fire" by Brenna Stockman

Answering The Call And Taking The Next Step

Scripture consistently presents salvation as something God initiates, provides, and makes entirely possible through His mercy. At the same time, it also portrays human beings as creatures capable of responding to this grace with trust, obedience, and love.

This tension is described as “synergism”- the view that while God is the source of salvation and spiritual transformation, human beings aren't passive spectators. His divine grace invites, awakens, and empowers, but the human heart must choose whether or not it'll respond. The invitation is genuine, and so is the responsibility.

Faith requires a movement of the will - not simple intellectual agreement, but a personal act of trust. A willingness to step beyond self-reliance and into the life God offers. Grace opens the door, but faith walks through it. This highlights the dignity with which He created us and gives us. Love and relationship can't be coerced. God desires willing communion, not mechanical compliance. We see this all throughout Scripture, as He continually calls, invites, and beckons people toward Himself, while honoring the reality of human choice.

Everything begins with God's initiative, yet every person is invited to participate in that divine work. The path is prepared, the invitation is extended, and the grace is freely given. The only question is whether we'll answer the call and take the next step.

- David Delfeld

Provided by "I Am With You Always" Questions on how to take the next Step? Am I Really Saved? How Do I Become A Christian?

Tired of Waiting for the Breakthrough

Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing,
and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” 

Nehemiah 4:10 (NKJV)

Every day, I coach women who are chasing a God-given dream. And earlier this year, I noticed something happening in their hearts that broke my heart a little.

Some of the excitement they had when they first started … had faded. Life crowded in. For some, progress felt painfully slow. I could see the discouragement creeping into their hearts one by one, that quiet voice whispering, Maybe this wasn't really my calling after all. Maybe I can’t do this.

Perhaps you know that voice. Maybe it whispers about a ministry you’re building, a relationship you’re fighting for, a career change you’re stepping toward, or a health journey you’re persevering in. Maybe there’s a dream God placed in your heart that now feels more like a burden than a blessing.

Can I tell you what I’m learning? This is exactly where breakthroughs happen. Not at the exciting beginning. Not when the passion is fresh and the possibilities feel endless. In the messy, unglamorous middle, where the rubble is piled up and progress is hard to see.

It's like in Nehemiah 4 when God’s people were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. It was a God-ordained mission, and they started strong. They were thrilled to be a part of this important purpose. But partway through, something shifted.

Nehemiah 4:10 says, “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’”

Not just the enemies outside the wall but the rubble within discouraged them. The accumulation of hard days, slow progress, and exhaustion made them question everything.

But Nehemiah reminded them of the vision. He repositioned them and told them to keep building. One stone at a time. Until 52 days later, the wall was finished (Nehemiah 6:15).

Whatever God has called you to, He hasn’t changed His mind because it got hard. He will bring it all to fruition in His timing. It may not feel easy, exciting, or certain, but when you choose faithfulness over feelings and keep showing up anyway, God doesn’t waste your obedience.

Every hard step, every act of courage when you want to quit, every prayer whispered through exhaustion … He’s using all of it. He's building something in you that’s bigger than you can see. He’s preparing you for something you can’t even imagine right now.

Momentum isn’t built on giant leaps. It's built on faithful steps taken one at a time.

You’re closer than you think. And whatever wall you’re building is worth finishing.

Lord, remind me today that You haven’t changed Your mind about what You’ve called me to. Give me courage to keep building - not because I feel ready or equipped but because I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Tracie Miles

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Quote: Pastor Steven Furtick

Prayer: Author and Finisher of My Faith

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; 

Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; 

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.  

Psalm 138:8

Daily I walk along the path of choosing. Decisions of life and death constantly before me. My choices will either draw me to you or lead me away. Each day I will declare that you are my God and nothing, not even my own selfish desires, will rule my life.

I fall into your arms. Not because I'm weary or defeated, but because I know you are my only hope. You don't want me to strive and take control. You only ask that I rest in you and release every care.

Without you, I'm nothing. Though my mind seeks to know the outcome of every situation, I will trust you. Your love has never failed me. I don't need to understand all of your plans, I only need to believe that they are good. You are the Author and Finisher of my faith. Every one of your faithful promises will come to pass. You will finish the work you've started in me.

Excerpt from "Prayers on Fire: Praying the Psalms" by Brian Simmons

Meme: Life's Storms

Finding Peace in the Storm To Carry You Through

“...Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Mark 6:50b (NKJV)

My first time visiting the state of Georgia was before we had smartphones and instant weather reports. As I drove out to hike a mountain, local news warned of intermittent showers.

But after parking, I realized I’d forgotten my rain gear. Should I leave? The sun was shining. Armed with waterproof hiking boots and a baseball cap, I figured, I’ll be fine.

Hours later, as I trekked through thick woods, it started sprinkling. Then rain poured in sheets, coming down sideways. Storm clouds quickly moved in, darkening the sky. Gusts of wind howled. Claps of explosive thunder boomed as lightning discharged around me in ominous, intense flashes like strobe lights.

I was scared and disoriented. It got so dark I couldn’t see the trail well without a flashlight or a map. There I stood, cold and soaked through in the middle of a thunderstorm.

That’s how life’s “storms” often are too. Troubling circumstances happen suddenly. We feel helpless, unsure what to do - our world seemingly spinning out of control.

The truth is we aren’t in control. But God is.

Jesus stands in our confusion and whispers, Take My hand. I will carry you through. I am with you. I will be your peace.

Sometimes the only way out is letting Jesus take us through the storm - and finding that His peace will carry us better than any plan.

Once, Jesus was alone on a mountain praying after sending His disciples ahead of Him into the Sea of Galilee. They, too, met a storm (Mark 6:45-48). Why would Jesus send them on a journey knowing they’d encounter bad weather?

Jesus saw His friends straining at the oars, and He came to them: “Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid’” (Mark 6:50b).

Peter attempted to walk to Jesus on the water but sank because he feared the wind’s strength. “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him,” Matthew 14:31 tells us (ESV). Then Jesus got into the boat, and the wind stopped.

Jesus is with us in every storm and calms us with His promises. He moves us from having “head knowledge” to personally experiencing the powerful peace of His presence. Because peace, after all, is a person.

God has a plan in the storms of life, but we don’t always know what it is. That’s the part that requires faith. Jesus offers His hand instead of a map.

Holding on to Him means letting go of Plan A, B, or C. You can take it one day at a time - and remember you’re not alone. Reach out for help, and surround yourself with friends to support you.

Jesus sees you. He is with you. And even if He doesn’t calm the winds, He will carry you through.

Dear Jesus, take my hand. Be my peace. Never let me go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Bonnie Gray
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Recognizing Your Blessings

“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works…

Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.”

Psalm 9:1,20

There is something deeply grounding about this passage because it redirects attention to where it truly belongs. David begins with wholehearted gratitude, choosing to remember and recount all that God has done. That is not a casual acknowledgment but an intentional act. It requires looking back, reflecting, and recognizing that the good in your life is not random or self-produced. It is given. It is sustained; It is rooted in God’s provision. Yet this is where it becomes easy to drift, because there is a natural tendency to take ownership of what was never fully yours to begin with.

It is subtle how pride can enter into gratitude. You may still thank God, but somewhere beneath that, there can be a belief that your effort, your discipline, or your decisions are the primary reason for the blessings you have. This passage gently but clearly confronts that mindset. It reminds you that no matter how capable you feel, no matter how much you have accomplished, you are still dependent. The phrase that they may know themselves to be but men carries weight because it brings everything back into perspective. It is not meant to diminish your value, but to realign your understanding of your position in relation to God.

There is a difference between participating in what God is doing and taking credit for it. You are invited to work, to grow, and to be faithful, but none of that exists apart from the strength and opportunity God provides. Every ability, every open door, every provision traces back to Him. When that truth is forgotten, it becomes easy to shift focus inward and begin building a sense of identity around what you have achieved. That kind of thinking creates distance because it slowly replaces dependence with self-reliance.

David models a different response. He does not just acknowledge God’s works internally, he speaks of them. He recounts them. There is something powerful in putting gratitude into words because it reinforces where your trust is placed. When you intentionally remember what God has done, it strengthens your faith for what is ahead. It reminds you that you are not navigating life alone and that the same God who provided before is still present now. Gratitude becomes more than a feeling, it becomes a practice that keeps your heart aligned.

There is also a deeper layer to this passage that speaks to how easily blessings can be misused when they are not recognized as coming from God. When something that was meant to reflect God’s goodness is turned into something that elevates self, it loses its intended purpose. This is where humility becomes essential. It is not about denying what you have, but about understanding why you have it. Everything is meant to point back to God, not as a restriction, but as a reminder of where life and provision truly come from.

Prayer: Peace and Protection...

The Weight That Holds Us Steady

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ”

Hebrews 6:19a (NKJV)

Recently, my husband and I went on a cruise for our 25th anniversary. As we rested on the balcony, watching the waves go by, I caught myself imagining what would happen if the ocean decided to get unruly.

The ship would have no choice but to drop anchor. Then the waves may not stop, but they would lose their power to push us off course. We would be held steady by something heavy, strong, and unseen.

That image immediately reminded me of Hebrews 6:19a: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

If you think about it, anchors don’t get much credit. They’re covered beneath the waterline, doing the quiet work of keeping everything grounded. By definition, an anchor is a heavy object attached to a cable or chain and used to moor a ship, fixing it firmly and securely in one place. Without that secure attachment, a ship does not stay put. It drifts.

We tend to drift in our own way, don't we? With a few hard hits, disappointments we didn’t see coming, or unanswered prayers … our souls loosen their grip on God. It’s not that we stop believing in Him, but the waves of life wear us out.

Drifting never announces itself; it just happens quietly and slowly. On the ship’s deck that day, it was like I heard a whisper in my heart: Are you drifting?

God invited me to pause long enough to reflect on what my soul had attached itself to for stability and whether that mooring point was actually strong enough to hold me during life’s storms. I had to admit that after facing a series of personal setbacks, my faith was wavering. I felt disconnected and was drifting without direction.

As I searched the Scriptures, I also came across Psalm 62:5, and it hit me like holy correction: “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him” (CSB). This truth recentered me and made me thankful for the hope I have in Christ, knowing my faith is secure in the God who is always faithful.

He is the One who holds us steady when circumstances feel unfair, unfinished, or overwhelming. Friend, when life is storm-tossed, when emotions get out of control, when fear or doubt shows up, when insecurity starts rearing its head, this is your reminder and mine: Hope in Christ.

We don’t get to escape the waves, but we do get to choose where we anchor. Christ is steady, trustworthy, and unshaken. Rest your weight there. He is strong enough to hold you.

Lord, when life feels unsteady, teach us to anchor our souls in You. Remind us that hope in Christ is stronger than any storm. Strengthen our faith, settle our fears, and keep us close. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Dr. Avril Occilien-Similien
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Prayer: Growing Older

Lord, growing older is not always easy. I feel the changes in my body, the slowing of my steps, the moments when my mind forgets what once came quickly. There are reminders all around me that this life is passing, that time is moving forward whether I’m ready or not.

And yet, I am not afraid.

Because this is not the end of my story.

You have promised something greater than what I see now. A life where what is broken will be restored, where weakness will be replaced with strength, and where I will finally see You face to face. That hope steadies me in ways nothing else can.

Help me to hold this truth gently but firmly in my heart. When I feel the weight of aging, remind me that I am not fading, I am being prepared. Each step forward is not just toward an ending, but toward eternity with You.

You have been faithful through every year behind me, and You will be faithful through every moment ahead, even the final one.

There is no fear in what You have already redeemed.

So, I rest on that promise. My future is not uncertain; it is secure in You. And when that day comes, I will not be stepping into the unknown, but into Your presence.

Provided by "God's Grace"

At Midnight

Paul and Silas Imprisoned
Acts 16:16–26 (NKJV)

Before there was a midnight praise, there was first a daytime beating.

Paul and Silas were not in that prison because they had failed God.

They were there because they had obeyed Him.

They delivered a young woman from demonic bondage, and instead of celebration they were accused.

Instead of honor they were humiliated.

Instead of gratitude they were beaten.

Scripture says they were thrown into the inner prison and their feet were fastened in stocks. Not the front cell. Not the holding room. The inner prison. The deepest place. The darkest place. The place designed to break a man’s spirit.

Their backs were bleeding.

Their bodies were bruised.

Their future was uncertain.

And then Scripture introduces one of the most poignant phrases in the entire Bible:

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

Midnight.

Not morning.

Not when the sun came up.

Not when the pain subsided.

Midnight is the hour when strength is gone.

It is when the body is tired and the mind is heavy.

It is when doubts grow loud and hope feels thin.

Midnight is when most people grow quiet.

But Paul and Silas did the opposite.

They did not wait for the chains to fall before they praised God.

They praised God while the chains were still on them.

They prayed while shackled.

They sang while wounded.

They worshiped in the very environment meant to silence them.

Just the Next Step

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

God is teaching me so much about really trusting Him. Fully. Completely. Wholeheartedly.

Though the path I’m on may feel uncertain, He’s faithful to shed just enough light for me to see the very next step. And this isn’t Him being mysterious - this is a great demonstration of His mercy. Instead of bombarding Him with my suggestions or projections, clenching my fists, and reaching for control, I simply need to embrace and obey the very next thing He shows me. And then the next.

That’s what it means to truly “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Because here’s what I know about myself: If God showed me too much revelation through an exact blueprint of where I'm headed, I might panic if His plan didn’t match what I desperately want. Or I might be tempted to take control and make things happen on my own.

On the flip side, if He showed me too little, never revealing Himself or His guidance, I’d be paralyzed with the thought that He’d abandoned me.

But in His kindness, God gives each of us just enough revelation to keep going today - an invitation from Him to be fully obedient to Him right now. When I read scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6, I can feel His prodding in my heart: Lysa, are you being obedient to Me in this?

Or as I listen to wise counsel, I am challenged: Lysa, are you willing to implement what is being suggested to you in this situation?

Often my confusion isn’t because God is being mysterious; it’s because I’m not being obedient. As I enter this brand-new day, I’m seeking Him rather than trying to figure out His plan. Instead of filling the gaps of the unknown with my suggestions to God, I’m placing my trust in Him.

We don’t have to know it all to trust Him completely. We can take it one day at a time. One step at a time. One act of obedience at a time. One sliver of light at a time.

El Shaddai, God Almighty, I want to trust You fully, wholeheartedly, with everything. But You know this can wage war with my desire to be certain, to understand, and to control. It feels like there are too many unknowns in my life, but thank You that You are constant, the same yesterday, today, and forever. You know I have dreams, desires, and hopes for my future. Often I want to run ahead of You and make all these happen. But I don’t want to lean on my own understanding; I want to lean on You. I know the best place to be is in Your will. I can count on You to guide me, revealing one step at a time. Whether it’s a small step or a big one, help me to obey. I know each step of obedience increases my faith in You. I want to be someone who lives every day in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Lysa TerKeurst

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Walking The Valley With God

I don’t have shiny faith. Most days it looks like worn out boots. Scuffed from miles I didn’t plan on walking. Heavy from valleys I thought I would be past by now.

I love God.

And I’m tired.

Tired of being strong.

Tired of explaining why this season is still hard.

Tired of praying the same prayers and wondering if they’re landing anywhere at all.

But I keep walking…

Not because I feel brave.

Not because I feel full of hope.

But because I’ve learned that God meets me in the valley, not just on the mountain.

Some days trusting Him looks like whispering His name through tears.

Some days it looks like getting up when I’d rather stay in bed.

Some days it looks like saying, “I don’t understand this,” and walking anyway.

That’s faith too.

The kind no one claps for.

The kind that aches.

The kind that keeps moving even when the path is slow and uneven.

“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9b

If your faith feels worn but you’re still taking one more step, you’re not failing. You’re walking the valley with God.

And He hasn’t let go of you.

Provided by "Little Sparrow Loved"

The Race

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race; but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God's powerful presence.

The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically; but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage.

Paul described his Christian life as a battle. There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered.

Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!”

Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby