Do you ever find yourself arguing… even when the issue really isn’t that important?
Do you feel compelled to point out the other side of every discussion? Do you have a hard time letting someone else have the last word? Or do you quietly replay conversations in your mind, thinking of all the things you wish you had said?
Most of us wouldn’t describe ourselves as argumentative. Yet today’s proverb gives us reason to stop and examine our hearts.
The Bible describes a contentious woman—not simply someone who occasionally disagrees, but someone whose words and attitudes regularly create conflict rather than peace.
The uncomfortable truth is that because of our sinful nature, every one of us has at least a little of that tendency. The good news is that God doesn’t simply expose our sin—He also shows us how to change.
Today we’ll discover where a contentious spirit comes from, why it’s often rooted in pride and selfishness, and how the gospel enables us to become women (and men) who speak with wisdom, kindness, and grace.
Loving prodigals can be heartbreaking and confusing. It’s hard to know what to do. When should we help? And when should we stay out of the way? Perhaps we should ask ourselves, are we really helping, or could we merely be helping them stay comfortable in their pigsty, the very place God wants them to feel uncomfortable, even hungry?
If you have a prodigal, I hope you’ll read today’s post and share your thoughts.
And from our other readings:
What is death? Why do we call an unbeliever spiritually dead? What is the second death?
Finally, some questions we should ask ourselves. James tells us we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. But I think we could also say that we should be doers and not just talkers when it comes to doing. Do we talk a lot about God or actually live for Him? Do we talk about winning souls, or do we share the gospel? And do we talk about prayer or do we pray? I know these are convicting questions for me. How about you?
As January comes to an end and the second month of the year begins, many of us will be examining the goals and resolutions we made just a few weeks ago. We’ll examine our progress (or lack of it) concerning a new diet, exercise plan, or some other goal. If we’re in school, we take examinations to test our proficiency in those subjects. And when it comes to our health, we get numerous examinations and tests to ensure we stay as healthy as we can. But how many of us take the time to examine the most important thing, our spiritual health?
Does salvation + time + knowledge = spiritual maturity? If not, where does it come from? From years of church membership? From learning how to use Bible software or getting 10 devotionals in your inbox? Does it come with a degree in theology? Or from attending Bible studies week after week? If not, what does it take?
Though we all know it’s there, most of us give little thought to what the conscience is, how it works, and why it’s important. We may find it annoying when our conscience keeps us from enjoying the things we want to do. In fact, some psychologists have told us our problem is a conscience that has been programmed by outdated religious ideas that keep us from being who we really are. They say we should throw off the shackles of our conscience. That, often, has a certain appeal to our sinful nature. But what is the conscience, why is it one of God’s mercies, and why might it need re-informing?
While we cannot know another person’s heart and motives (and we need to be careful not to think we can), it’s a misunderstanding of the Bible to think we are never to judge someone else’s behavior. In fact, there is a great danger in not judging sin, especially to the person caught up in it.
But it’s not just in the lives of others that we need to judge sin. In today’s post, you’ll find a great list of questions to regularly ask yourself so you don’t fall into habits that can hurt your relationship with God and destroy your relationships with the people you love.
We’ll also read about some things to consider when going through a test or a trial and some of the traps that can lead to sexual immorality.
Last week I shared about something that happened almost 20 years ago that rocked my walk with God and my husband’s, as well. The change that God did through it eventually rippled out into every part of our lives. Today I’m going to talk about a principle that will not only rock our lives personally but will lay the foundation for understanding and obeying the other principles we find in God’s Word.
Throughout the centuries, some of the greatest men and women of God have kept journals. But journaling isn’t just for spiritual giants. It’s for you and me. If you find it hard to concentrate during your quiet time, a journal...
Questions. They can be rhetorical or direct. They can be hard-hitting or frivolous. Jesus used questions to get to the heart with those He met. In counseling, we say, “Accusations harden the heart, but questions prick the conscience.” Questions can help...
Blended families are everywhere. Maybe your family is a blended or step-family. If so, you know blended families face unique challenges and issues. But while our problems may be unique in their details, the heart issues involved are much the same as those individuals and all families face.
