There’s a story about a father taking his son to a boxing match. Before the fight begins, one of the boxers kneels in his corner, says a prayer, makes the sign of the cross, and stands back up. The son looks at his dad and asks, “Dad, is that prayer going to help him win?” His dad says, “Yes, son—as long as he learned how to box first.” I think that’s a pretty good picture of Proverbs 21:31. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” The

There’s a story about a farmer who owned a 250-acre farm, but was ready to sell for something bigger and better. He called a realtor, and before listing the property, the realtor wrote a description of the farm: For Sale - Beautiful 250 acre farm. Fertile land that produces great harvest, rolling hills, quiet streams stocked with fish, a beautiful two-story house, and wonderful neighbors. When he finished, the farmer said, “Read that to me again.” So the realtor did. After he

Have you ever read a familiar passage of Scripture and suddenly seen something you had never noticed before? That happened to me recently with Philippians 4. I’ve read these verses countless times. I’ve preached them. I’ve quoted them. “Rejoice in the Lord always.” “Do not be anxious about anything.” “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.” “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable…think about these

When I was in high school, I read the story of a man named Ernest Shackleton, and I’ve never forgotten it. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Shackleton set out to accomplish what, at the time, seemed nearly impossible: reach the South Pole. On one expedition, his ship became trapped in ice and was eventually crushed. Shackleton and his crew spent months stranded before he and five other men climbed into a small boat and sailed roughly 800 miles across some of the mos

I still remember Christmas of 1995. I was an 11-year-old girl with exactly one thing on my Christmas wish list: a Sony Discman. Not just any Discman—the Sony D-143 with MegaBass and Electronic Shock Protection. If you grew up in the '90s, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. When I opened that box on Christmas morning, I thought I had arrived. It wasn't just another gift; it was the most valuable thing I owned. I carried it everywhere. To me, it was priceless, an

Have you ever been humbled? I certainly have. Back in college, while Mya (my now wife) and I were dating, we were both involved in student leadership. One semester we led the men's and women's ministries on campus. We organized events together, discipled students, and honestly, I thought we had both done an incredible job. At the end of the semester, the school held an awards banquet to recognize outstanding student organizations and leaders. As they described the Student Org

Have you ever walked into a dark room and instinctively reached for a light? Even the smallest candle changes the atmosphere. It doesn't eliminate all the darkness, but it gives people enough light to see where they're going. I think that's the picture Paul had in mind when he wrote to the church in Philippi. He tells believers to "shine as lights in the world." Not because the world is easy to navigate, but because it isn't. Followers of Jesus are called to reflect His light

Have you ever found yourself wishing you were somewhere else? Maybe you've complained about your neighborhood, your town, your workplace, or even the state you live in. It's easy to believe that life would be better if God would simply move us somewhere new. But what if God has a purpose for placing you exactly where you are? When we read Jeremiah 29:11, most of us immediately think about God's promise: "For I know the plans I have for you." It's one of the most quoted verses

I recently came across the story of a young man named Ray Anthony Jackson. When he was born, his fifteen-year-old mother was unable to pay the hospital bill. Desperate for help, she called a family friend who happened to be a military veteran. He agreed to sign the paperwork as the child's father so the bill could be covered. After that day, he disappeared from their lives. Years later, when Ray was in high school, he finally met the man whose last name he carried. He thanked

About sixty years after the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, another church leader found himself facing persecution. His name was Polycarp. At eighty-six years old, Roman soldiers finally found him after years of searching. Instead of resisting arrest, he invited them inside, prepared them a meal, and asked for one hour to pray before they took him away. They agreed. History tells us he prayed for two hours. Even more remarkable, several of the very soldiers