The condition of your heart determines the direction of your life. This is the consistent teaching of the Scriptures – as our hearts go, so do our actions.

Main Points:

1. Satan uses all kinds of weapons to attack our hearts. For me, these attacks often come in the form of some circumstance that leads to disappointment, discouragement, or even disillusionment.

2. Solomon’s words are a warning. He says we are to “guard.” He implies you are living in a combat zone. You don’t have to guard something unless it is under attack. You don’t guard and protect something unless it is in danger.

3. In prayer, do a heart check. Is your heart healthy? Are you healthy spiritually? Spiritual vitality is found in a close relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 4:23 - “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 17:19 - “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

Luke 6:45 - “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Proverbs 4:20-22 – “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

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Work out your salvation. Put your salvation to work. Let it be evident in every area of your life. Allow your salvation to transform your thinking, your attitude, your words, and your behavior. Let Christ be exalted in every area.

Main Points:

1. The forgiveness of our sins does not come through our own works and good deeds. In other words, we could never earn our salvation.

2. Works do not save us, but they are the evidence of our salvation. We do not work to be saved. We work because we are saved.

3. Having received such a powerful and gracious salvation from our heavenly father, we want to serve Him. We want to live the life of a believer he has called us to. We want to use our time, talents, and treasure to advance the kingdom of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 16:30 - “What must I do to be saved?”

Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Philippians 2:12-13 - “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

James 2:26 - “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

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Our suffering can increase our testimony for Christ. Our hard times can elevate our witness. Our difficulties can give us a larger and more receptive audience to whom we can influence for Christ.

Main Points:

1. Suffering, as a tool for advancing the gospel? No, I think I’ll pass. Yet, over and over again in Scripture, we see God redeeming suffering for His kingdom purposes.

2. Paul’s freedom and mobility were restricted, it was not a situation he would have chosen for himself. Yet, as he writes to the Philippians, Paul recognizes that his house arrest has advanced the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was allowed to have visitors to whom Paul boldly taught about Jesus.

3. These examples reveal God’s kingdom's purposes being accomplished through suffering. While none of us want to go through hard times, we ask that God would use them for His glory. We ask that He would make our witness clear and bold for Christ. We ask that others see our love for Jesus and that our suffering would present opportunities for people to hear the gospel message.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 1:12 - “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”

Acts 28:30-31 - “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

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Here’s what I am learning: It’s easier to avoid temptation than it is to fight sin. If possible, we should avoid being in places where we know we will be tempted. But sometimes, temptation seems to come out of nowhere. What do we do?

Main Points:

1. We must deal with the temptation immediately. Don’t wait. Don’t linger. Don’t think about it. Don’t entertain the possibility. The longer you wait, the weaker you become.

2. This means that we take immediate action against those thoughts that would lead us away from God’s will for our lives. We cannot give place to thoughts of temptation. Let me say it again. The longer you wait, the weaker you become. We must become fierce in the battle against temptation.

3. Maybe as you listen to this episode, you acknowledge you’ve done a poor job in the battle against temptation. I get it. I’ve been there too. So, where can we find strength? We find strength in three things: God’s Word, God’s presence, and in community with other believers.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Corinthians 10:5 - “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3 - “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him…”

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I imagine David, hiding in the back of a cave, writing by candlelight. He’s thinking about days gone by. He remembers times when he was worshipping with God’s people. He’s longing for the house of God. He’s remembering the blessing of experiencing the presence and power of God and he comes to a revelation: the love of God is better than life itself.

Main Points:

1. Today, people value a lot of different things. Some value pleasure and happiness. Others value experiences and possessions. Many value home, family, and comfort. For David, he had come to realize that what he valued more than anything else was the love of God.

2. How amazing it is to be loved by God. Let this truth fill your soul today. You are loved by God. Not just loved but loved deeply. You are on the heart and mind of God today.

3. You can reach out to a God who loves you very much. Turn your heart towards God in worship, regardless of your circumstances. Anyone can worship God when life is good, but can you worship Him when life is hard? As you worship, I believe His presence will fill your soul. Reflect on the love of God. Rest in His love for you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 63:1-4 - “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live”

Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

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When we think about God’s resources and His ability to provide for us, we must see the abundance of His provision. There is no limit to God’s resources. Just as we can’t calculate the volume of the ocean, we can’t determine the extent of God’s ability to provide.

Main Points:

1. His power is endless. His resources will never be used up. God will never go bankrupt. He has unlimited resources. God’s supply never runs out. He is truly a God of abundance.

2. Our Heavenly Father has infinite resources and unlimited creativity. You can’t usually guess how God is going to work, because He delights to provide in ways we never would expect so that we will revel in His abundant goodness. God provides abundantly, in His timing, in ways we never would expect.

3. Will you stand upon the promise of God’s Word and trust that He will provide for you? Be unmoving in your faith that God will provide from his unlimited supply.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 4:19 - “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 - “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Psalm 37:25 - “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”

Psalm 34:10 - “…those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

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In the night hours, when you can’t sleep, instead of dwelling on problems, uncertainties, and anxieties, turn your mind back to a song. A song of worship and a song of praise. If you are married, you might not want to sing aloud and wake your spouse, but in your heart, you rehearse the words of praise to God.

Main Points:

1. It’s at night, in the quiet that our fears often increase their volume. Our minds ask, “What if this happens? What if the medical test turns out positive? What if I don’t have enough money? What if my kids make wrong decisions? What if my elderly parents can’t take care of themselves? There seems to be no end to the what-if questions.

2. But a song in the night moves us from uncertainty to certainty. We are uncertain about a lot of things in this life, but we are absolutely certain about God. We are certain that nothing will separate us from His love. We are certain he has been faithful in our past and will be faithful in our future. We are certain that He will never leave us or forsake us.

3. Choose your song. Pick a song that exalts Jesus and reminds you of His faithfulness. When all is dark, let it be your song in the night.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 42;8 - "By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”

Psalm 77:6 - “I remembered my songs in the night.”

Acts 16:25 - “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

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No matter what we have, we want more. I think you would agree, contentment is hard to find. Have you ever said, “I’ll be happy when… I’ll be content when…” Contentment is elusive. The more we have the more we want. We have an idea that when we arrive at a certain place, we’ll finally be content, only to arrive and still want more.

Main Points:

1. Today, you and I think of contentment as comfort, happiness, and satisfaction, but all of these things are based on our circumstances. Sometimes the circumstances of life don’t leave us comfortable, happy, or satisfied.

2. I love this definition. Contentment is realizing God has given you in your present circumstances everything you need to endure, grow closer to Him, and remain victorious in your relationship with Christ. It is the ability to live steadily above changing circumstances through the power of Christ within you.

3. The key to contentment is realizing that God has already given you, in your present circumstances, everything you need to have joy and fulfillment.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 4:11-13 - “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Luke 12:15 - “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he has.”

Matthew 6:33 – “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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