Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 Your life is shaped by your thoughts more than you realize. The way you see yourself, your circumstances, and…
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 It’s easy to treat…
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8:6–7 Our world talks constantly about love, yet finding lasting love often seems increasingly rare. We celebrate the excitement of new…
Over the past several weeks we’ve been walking through the poetry of Song of Solomon. We’ve watched love pursued. We’ve seen the beauty of commitment. We’ve learned that love flourishes in God’s timing. Last week we discovered that every relationship experiences seasons, and God’s design is to weather those seasons together. One thing that often…
One of the greatest misconceptions about relationships is that healthy relationships never struggle. That simply is not true. Even strong marriages experience difficult seasons. This weekend, our nation celebrates 250 years of independence. Two hundred and fifty years ago, freedom was won through tremendous sacrifice. But history teaches us that winning freedom and preserving freedom…
One of the things that we struggle with today is impatience. Nobody wants to wait anymore. We want fast food, instant downloads, same-day shipping, and immediately answers. And unfortunately, many people approach love the same way. Culture teaches us that if you feel it, follow it. If you want it, pursue it immediately. Your emotions…
“Draw me away!” — Song of Solomon 1:4 One of the greatest dangers in any relationship is not usually conflict. It is more of a drift. Few couples wake up one day and decide to become distant. More often, distance develops gradually through neglect, busyness, and routine. The same can happen in our walk with…
“My beloved is mine, and I am his.” Song of Solomon 2:16 Growing up in church, I’ve had the opportunity to hear hundreds of sermons. I have noticed, however, that certain passages or books have been ignored or skipped over by preachers. One of these books is found in the Old Testament. The Song of…
“Then He said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23 Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In fact, He told His disciples that true discipleship requires self-denial, daily surrender, and faithful obedience. To deny ourselves means…
“Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 Among all the pieces of God’s armor, the sword is the only offensive weapon. Paul identifies this sword as the Word of God. It is powerful, living, and able to cut through lies and darkness. Jesus showed us how to use this…