Most people are forever trying to put distance between themselves and their difficult places. If they struggle with temper, they try to stay away from people, places, or things that might trigger anger. If it their issue is lust, they create what I call “fences” to try to keep themselves in a safe zone. Having healthy boundaries (“fences”) is a good thing. Few people can successfully overcome in difficult areas without the right kind of boundaries, but boundaries are not t

The downfall of the addict is generally “just one drink.” For sake of argument, let’s give the addict the benefit of the doubt for having good intentions. He truly only plans on having one drink. All things work by spiritual authority. For an addict to take one drink is like lighting a very short fuse on firecracker while holding it in your hand. Chances are good that it will blow before you can get it out of your hand. You might get away with it once, or twice, but it i

In Jeremiah 13:23, God asks the question “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?” God follows with His own answer saying, “Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Conscience is powerful. It is the deepest part of us and has the most control over our behavior. Conscience is not automatic but is shaped over a period of time. Thus God responds that those who are accustomed to doing evil cannot turn and do good. Spiritual presence is a p

I woke up grumpy and there was no reason for it. I was in the middle of some time off. I was reasonably rested. Life was going well. So where did the ugly mood come from? I started to read the Word and to pray. It seemed like I was getting nowhere. I’m not sure where I got the idea, but I started looking at some of my old journals. Within a few minutes, my attention shifted to some of the incredible things God was doing in my life. My life pattern has been to be a load

There are times when we feel like everything we do is for nothing. It is all falling apart right before our eyes. Everyone else seems to be blessed more than we are. Nothing seems to be going right. Isaiah 53 is a prophetic chapter that clearly describes Jesus the suffering servant. Right in the middle of that chapter (v. 10), it says “he will see his offspring.” Jesus will see His children. Three verses later, Isaiah 54:1 says, “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore