34152 Consistency

Matty and Todd had been having trouble for several years. The trouble was not fights or noisy arguments, but playing cat-and-mouse over Matty’s changing moods.

The couple would plan to go to a church home group party or a family gathering, but Matty would beg off at the last minute. She just wasn’t up to socializing. Todd would feel sorry for her, change the evening’s plans and stay home. After several weeks of staying home, he would become blue. Then she would feel guilty for causing him to give up his social life and she would start going out. But he knew she was doing it just for him, so he would feel guilty and stay home more. It was a vicious circle, actually a battle of wills, his versus hers.

At her first appointment, nothing in the world seemed good to Matty. I remarked that she was a miserable woman.

“Oh, I’m a Christian,” she replied. “And I’ve got a nice husband, a good home, and a fine church. I suppose I should be happy.”

“No,” I assured her. “It’s your choice to be miserable in spite of all the good things in your life.”

Over a three-month period, Matty slowly disclosed how she was gradually withdrawing from life. The home she was raised in had been one of constant distress; she always seemed to be in the middle of combative parents. She learned it was easier to duck than to take the chance of getting hurt. This protective attitude had carried over into her married life. Now it was simpler to stay home rather than risk being hurt.

One day, Matty decided to stop ducking. She said she was going to ask God for help to accept her husband’s social life.

For three months, she was a happy Christian. Then she came back, depressed again.

I helped her see that she was depressed because she changed her mind about wanting to venture out. Again, she cast her burden on the Lord and went away rejoicing. But after awhile she returned, defeated as before.

Her moods continually alternate. She knows how to turn her troubles over to the Lord, and she has proved that it works. But I am afraid that she hasn’t yet taken to heart Jesus’ words in John 15:4, “Abide in me.” Hers is not a daily walk with the Lord. Alternately she casts her burdens on the Lord and takes them upon herself. She empties them out and then slowly collects them again.

To “abide” is to enjoy Christ’s victory over self. We must consistently depend on God in order to consistently experience Him. He can and will live in us if we allow His Spirit to work in us.

34154 A Desperate Act

Eric Green lay in a pool of his own blood on the bathroom floor. He watched the red stream spurt from his slashed wrists and trickle along the masonry grooves that separated the little squares of tile. Powerless to stop it, he saw the blood crawl steadily onward and spill into more grooves.

He had started this flow. It was something he had wanted to do—to end his life. But now the horror of his choice overwhelmed him. What a mistake he had made!

“O God I don’t want to die!” he cried feebly. He knew chances were small that he would survive. An hour might pass before his wife returned—and she would be too late to save him.

He marshaled his wits to give himself an order. Get up and look through the medicine chest for adhesive tape. He tried to bring his legs up under him, but could not. He was too weak. He could only clasp his wrists with opposite hands and press his fingers across the gashes in an attempt to hold back the blood. But the blood was not to be contained. He saw it flow from beneath his weakening fingers.

“I’m a fool. My whole life I’ve been a fool!” he gasped. Then his mind began to fog, and the brightness of the blood seemed to fade. Eric Green slipped into unconsciousness; he lay there alone somewhere in the twilight between life and death …

The day had begun when Eric woke up to the smell of bacon frying. He liked bacon the way Ann, his wife, fixed it. But this morning he had no appetite for any food. He had no “stomach” either for the job that faced him that day as office manager in a large industrial firm.

“I just can’t go to work today,” he said to his wife as he plodded out to the kitchen.

“Have some coffee, and you’ll feel better,” Ann said, holding a steaming cup toward him.

There was little breakfast conversation until Ann reminded Eric he’d be late for work.

Wouldn’t she ever take him at his word? “Ann, I tell you, I’m not going,” he said sharply. “I hate those people. They make me nervous. I can’t face them today.”

“That’s last week’s song, and you played it the week before that,” she said with sarcasm. “Try something else for a change.”

That brought Eric’s temper to a boil. “When we were first married, you understood the difficulties I faced at the plant. At least you said you did,” he shouted. “Maybe you were just as cold-hearted then as you are now—only I couldn’t see through you.”

An hour went by while the quarrel raged on. Eric pushed back his dishes and laid his head in his hands on the table.

“Don’t expect any sympathy from me for the mistakes you make consistently at the office or at church or wherever you go,” she said over the excessive clattering of her dishwashing. “You act like a kid enough without my babying you …”

“What do you mean by that?” he demanded, rising up.

“What do I mean?” she replied. “‘Why, everybody knows if Eric Green doesn’t get his own way he blows his top—and woe to anyone around when the fallout comes.”

Eric pushed back his chair. “Where are those sleeping pills the doctor gave me?”

“In the medicine chest. Why?”

“I need one,” Eric said. “I need a whole bottleful.”

Ann said nothing.

“Did you hear me, Ann? I said I am going to swallow all 20 pills at once.”

Ann turned. Lines of disbelief appeared around her mouth. “I thought you were too sick to make jokes to get my sympathy. But as long as you’re at it, there’s a new package of razor blades next to the sleeping pills in the cabinet. I’m going next door.”

Eric Green had been a sociable fellow, a back-slapper, a joiner. Flattery, manipulation, taking advantage of the situation for his own good—these had been his methods. They had gotten him through college and quite a way up the ladder of success. Who was the best darn fellow in the luncheon club? Eric Green, of course. Who made the biggest impression at church? Eric Green, everyone’s friend.

Inside, however, Eric realized he didn’t have much—except for an image. And lately that image was beginning to tarnish.

His lack of depth had started to show up at the office. And more than one person had recently questioned his sincerity in Christian work. As Ann said, his violent temper was his trademark. But he had always been able to laugh off his angry outbursts, and people seemed to forget. Over the past few months, however, people had stopped laughing with him.

The old techniques of getting by were no longer working, and that bothered him. But he’d find another way. Adjustment was his middle name.

If Eric ever felt guilty, he transferred that guilt to his father; his dad had always been too busy for the family. Or, he blamed his well-meaning, but inept, mother. She had tried to rear her children by high Christian standards, but somehow when Eric or his brother protested such standards, the boys always won out—first by tears and tantrums, later by threats and defiance. His mother’s practice of Christianity never seemed equal to the demands of two wild boys.

Not until he married did anyone really know what Eric was like. In the two years Ann and Eric had been together, she had frequently confronted him. She had made him unsure of himself. Maybe that was why he had been having so much difficulty with the people in his life lately, why failure was piling upon failure. He had to show her …

In the seconds just before Eric lost consciousness, he admitted it wasn’t Ann or his mother or his father who had caused his trouble. It was no one but himself.

Eric woke up in the hospital. He found Ann by his side. She had barely entered the home of their neighbor’s when she became convicted about the mean things she had said to her husband. She went back home, called for Eric in a tone of conciliation, and found him when she saw a tiny stream of blood trickle under the bathroom door.

Eric, his old image laid aside, asked his wife for forgiveness. They had a tender reunion, and after his recovery, Eric made an appointment for counseling help.

“Dr. Brandt,” he said, “I’m a Christian, but I haven’t much lived like one.”

There was little of the Christian life I could tell him except to review what he already knew—and had known since the days when his mother had tried to teach him in her inadequate way. We spoke of hate and anger and insincere relations with others as the works of the flesh.

We discussed the spiritual walk of the Christian as outlined in Galatians 5 and Colossians 3, and what Jesus has to say in Matthew 15:8 about mere lip service.

Eric had been deliberately rejecting God’s demands on his life. The severe indictment of Romans 1 against those who do not want to retain God in their knowledge was beginning to apply to him. Seeing this, he earnestly repented and asked God to change him.

Eric came around so fast that people doubted the genuineness of the change. This was another blow to him. But gradually he realized that this was a part of the test he had to go through in order to prove that the Eric Green who came back from near-death was thoroughly renewed by Jesus Christ.

34156 Is it Really Sin?

This town was surrounded by beautiful, rolling hills and lush, productive farmland. The air was fresh and clean. There was lots of sky, and we enjoyed glowing sunrises, spectacular sunsets, and beautiful moonlit nights. There were prosperous farmers who lived in large, lovely homes with all the conveniences anyone could ask for. They looked out of their picture windows at their oil wells pumping black gold 24 hours a day. Everyone had several big cars in their driveways and we ate sumptuous meals. The people were elegantly dressed. The church was beautifully furnished.

You would think if there were any place in the world where people would be content and satisfied, it would be in this town. No doubt these people could teach me a thing or two about mental health.

To my surprise, I was swamped by people who requested counseling. There were many troubled hearts in those beautiful homes. People were lonely, worried, disillusioned, and fearful. Many of them tossed and turned in their comfortable beds and often wet their soft pillows with bitter tears. Human nature is the same wherever you go, and sad to say, luxury and plenty do not quiet the human heart. These people pleaded for me to tell them what to buy, or eat, or drink, or where to go, or what to do to find some relief for their tense, anxious bodies.

Christina was from one of those lovely homes. She drove to my office in a fine luxury car. She was beautiful. The skillful use of cosmetics gave just the right touch to her complexion and eyes. Every hair was in place. A carefully chosen dress complemented her body. She was married to a handsome, hard-working husband. They lived in a roomy, nicely furnished house. They had one child and planned to have at least two more.

She had the same questions that I have heard repeated hundreds of times since. Christina wondered, “I have everything I ever wanted. Why do I hurt? Why can’t I relax?”

She had consulted a physician because she was experiencing occasional pain in the chest area and she struggled with a shortness of breath. After looking at the test results, her physician gingerly asked if she might be having any personal or family problems. He suggested that she consult a psychiatrist. She felt insulted, so she indignantly proceeded to get a second opinion. It was the same as the first.

As this story tumbled out, it was easy to see that she was a tense, stressful young lady. She couldn’t imagine why she needed a counselor. She had a good life and a good marriage. Why, then, did she have chest pains and shortness of breath?

I urged her to go home and think about the possible causes of her symptoms. Was there anything in her life that made her feel angry, resentful, bitter, or rebellious? She told me immediately that she had no such problems and promptly left.

Christina called me the next morning. “Could I come in?” she asked. “The sooner the better.” She was ready for some help.

Apparently that night, after she had talked with me, she and her husband watched a football game with another couple. During the game, her husband yelled at the referee and argued loudly with his friend several times. Christina didn’t say anything, but by the time the game was over she was disgusted and embarrassed. Her husband sensed something was wrong, but she simply told him she was tired.

Christina told me that she discovered soon after her marriage that her handsome, hard-working, fun-loving husband was also gruff, rude, and demanding. When he wanted to speak to her he would do so from wherever he was–even if he was upstairs in the bathroom and she was downstairs in the kitchen. He would shout loudly enough to be heard and expected her to reply immediately. If she didn’t, he would come storming to her and give her an angry tongue-lashing for not listening to him. If he was watching a ball game on TV, he would cheer or boo or yell at the umpire as loudly as the people in the crowd at the stadium. During the evening news, he would react loudly and give his opinions as though he were addressing an audience. Yet when there were guests in the house he would speak in a conversational tone, so Christina’s friends had no idea what she endured.

She discovered that this was a family pattern. They were a loud bunch who turned down the volume when company came. While Christina and her husband were courting, she was company. Now that they were married, she was family.

Christina was a soft-spoken person. She was accustomed to conversational-level talk. No one ever shouted in her family, especially from one room to another. Any effort on her part to get him to see her side of the issue was just brushed aside. After several tries failed to get him to at least discuss the problem, she gave up and never brought it up again.

I reminded Christina about the words I asked her to think about the day before. We ended up agreeing that she deeply resented her husband’s behavior and his total disregard for her style of communicating. Outwardly she was friendly, but last night she almost lost control. “He has no idea how I feel and couldn’t care less,” she said bitterly and burst into uncontrollable weeping. After she quieted down she said she felt as if a heavy load had been removed from her shoulders.

Finally she was able to admit to herself that her response to her husband was a miserable concoction of resentment, anger, hatred, and rebellion. She was simply covering it all over with behavior that made her look perfectly happy.

Here was a beautiful, perfectly groomed lady. She drove one of the finest luxury cars on the market. She lived in a spacious home that she helped to design and furnish. Her husband was a leader in the church. But she was hurting with chest pains and had trouble breathing. She did not want to acknowledge her own feelings of resentment and rebellion. She could not enjoy life because of a tiny word that has been banished from most people’s vocabulary: “sin.”

Let’s take a look at two Bible verses that give us instruction on how to deal with our anger:

“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)

To come to the decision that will lead you into the pleasant valley of peace is to struggle with your own will. Let me illustrate this by noting the experience of Jerry.

Jerry was a department foreman at a manufacturing firm. One day his boss called him into the office and said, “Jerry, as you know, things are a bit slow around here these days. I realize you have worked hard and run one of the best departments in the company. But my orders are to cut one supervisor, so I am letting you go.”

Jerry was stunned. He was the only Christian among the foremen. The other supervisory personnel, including his boss, liked to go out drinking and had some wild parties together. As a result, their work sometimes suffered and Jerry had to step in to rescue them. He had worked hard and now this was his reward.

Jerry soon faced a financial slump. He had been making payments on a new home and a car but when his salary was suddenly cut off, he was in trouble. He lost both the house and the car and had to move in with his parents. While with them, he had nothing to do but sit in a comfortable chair and mull over his experience.

“So this is the reward for hard work and clean living,” he said to himself over and over. The more he thought, the more bitter he became. He found it hard to eat and harder to digest what little he did eat. He suffered from painful cramps. His physician told him that his condition stemmed from his emotions. But most of his friends reassured him that he had a right to have some emotional problems.

Twelve years later, time seemed to have healed the wound. Jerry found another job and was quite successful in it. He was, in fact, the general manager of a manufacturing outfit with eight plants. One day, while he was inspecting one of the plants, the personnel director asked him if he would like to meet the plant’s new chief engineer. Of course he would, and did. Jerry found himself face-to-face with the man who fired him 12 years before. Here working for him was the person who had caused him so much grief, pain, and embarrassment.

“I sure made a terrible mistake back then,” the engineer said to Jerry when they were alone. “Will you forgive me?”

“Oh, certainly. Forget it,” Jerry replied.

Jerry told the man that he would forgive, but within himself he nursed a gnawing bitterness. His stomach problem returned and he began reliving those confusing, painful days of long ago. He had thought this period of his life was long forgotten, but now he found himself fuming in his plush office, wanting only to get even.

One day, he related the experience to me, then asked how one could work with a person who had treated him as this man had.

What would have been your reply?

I pointed out several Scripture passages to Jerry. One describes the work of the Holy Spirit:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)

The apostle Paul spoke here of trouble, perplexity, persecution, and rejection. All these had happened to him. But Paul also said there is a power that will enable a man to face such treatment without distress, despair, self-pity, or ruin. It is the power of God. I discussed this with Jerry, but at the time it seemed to mean little to him. I then spoke of the end products of distress, pointing out that definite bodily changes are involved. “Your blood pressure, respiration, and digestion can be affected,” I said.

“Are you suggesting that I am my own problem? Would you have acted differently had you taken what I took?” he asked.

I reminded Jerry of one of Jesus’ statements:

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

Jerry became furious with me. How could I be so lacking in sympathy and understanding? Now he was upset not only at the engineer, but at me as well.

Who was Jerry hurting when he carried his grudge around within himself? Who was affected when he sat in his chair and seethed over a man who wasn’t even in his presence? Himself, of course. Jerry argued that he had a right to be bitter. I agreed he did and I would agree with anyone who stands on his right to be angry and unforgiving over a wrong done to him. It is your privilege to be upset and miserable. But as long as you remain angry, you will be miserable.

There is a power that will enable you to face your circumstances without distress. It is the power of God, made available to you through the dying of the Lord Jesus. God’s power and His alone can make you want to forgive a person who has misused you. But Jerry did not want to forgive that engineer; he wanted to get even.

For many people, yielding bitterness and hatred in exchange for a tender heart toward someone who doesn’t deserve it would not be a blessed relief but rather a great sacrifice. Like Jerry, untold numbers of people would like to be free from their aches and pains. But if you say that means they must relinquish a long-standing grudge, they say they would rather ache.

There in Jerry’s nice walnut-paneled, softly lit office we were locked in a struggle. If I had told him that his grudge was normal and that I probably would have acted the same way, he might have enjoyed some relief, but the inner sore would have continued to fester and spread its poison.

The only solution is for a person to quit fighting and turn to God for a spirit of love toward someone who does not deserve it. And when you yield, the problem is nearly over. The Bible says it is your move: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

One day, Jerry finally did turn to God for help with his bitterness and hatred. His digestive disorder disappeared and his aches and pains went away. He was at peace with himself and with the man he felt had treated him unfairly. Jerry was able to enjoy God’s peace in his life.

How did this change come about? By confessing or acknowledging that he had done wrong–that he had sinned. David wrote this about his sin: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

When Jerry paid attention to and took care of his own reaction to the other man’s sins instead of concerning himself with what the other man had done, he found himself on the road to peace.

To acknowledge your own sin is disturbing only if you fight what you discover. If, instead, you admit it and seek help from God, the result is not guilt but an overwhelming sense of forgiveness, cleansing, renewal, and peace.

Unfortunately, the word “sin” has almost completely disappeared from our vocabulary. One of the reasons is that we rely on the medical profession to prescribe mood-altering drugs that provide patients with a temporary escape from pain, anxiety, boredom, and remorse. While these can often be helpful, they can also enable us to put off dealing with the real issues in our lives.

People steadfastly resist the diagnosis of personal sin. It is much easier to accept that our symptoms have some underlying pathology. There is no reason to turn to God; what we are experiencing is a human problem caused by social interaction and it must be solved on a human level with the help of trained human beings. This is the approach taken by most government, education, medical, and psychological professionals, and by a rapidly growing number of church-related personnel.

The pathway to spiritual peace is a struggle. Discover the truth about yourself and you will naturally shrink from it; become offended and defensive and you will be bound in the strong fetters of your sin. What a difference you will find if you just heed the promise of Jesus: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Why did Jesus come to live among the people, die on a cross, and rise again? Matthew 1:21 gives us the answer: “… because he will save his people from their sins.”

Identify the sin in your life, ask God to forgive you of it, and experience His peace!

49902 Yes, I Prayed and Invited Jesus into My Life

Inviting Jesus into your life is the most important decision you will ever make. Receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord brings immediate benefits and changes.

The Bible promises, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

You are now a new person in Christ! Jesus wants you to become aware of all the resources He has already made available to you so you can achieve your true potential.

So What’s Next?

1. Discover your new resources in Christ

Now that you are a Christian, you need a basic understanding of what Jesus is giving you for your spiritual journey. All the resources you need to begin your walk with God are here in this app!

The Adventure of Living with Jesus is a great place to start! It is a 7-lesson study that covers the essentials for your life with Jesus.

2. Spend time exploring God’s Word.

It is important you discover what the Bible says about God, you, life, and eternity.

You can start reading the Bible available in this app. New to the Bible? You can learn more about reading the Bible, too!

Find the answers you seek. Be confident that the decisions you are making daily are based on truth. In fact, Jesus promised that the Truth found in the Bible will set us free from whatever has us in bondage. Begin by reading the Gospel of John.

3. Join together with other Christians!

At the very moment you received Christ, you became part of God’s eternal family. Your spiritual vitality depends on you connecting regularly with your new brothers and sisters in God’s family. This “family time” provides mutual encouragement, practical insights about living the Christian life, and direction for fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. Look for a Bible-believing church or group of believers in your locality. Here is more about finding the right church.

4. Let us know!

We are here to help people on their spiritual journey with Jesus! You can reach us via Message in this app. Go to the main menu, and under Community, you can tell us about your decision to trust Jesus. We can help you figure out your next steps!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

49904 Yes, I Prayed and Rededicated My Life to Jesus

Welcome back home!

In Luke 15, there is a story of the father and his son. The son who left the family returned. See how his father receives him back.

18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:18-24)

Your heavenly Father welcomes you back with open arms.

So What’s Next?

1. Discover your new resources in Christ

You may have some knowledge about Jesus, but let’s start afresh. Fully ground yourself in Jesus and his love.

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” – John 15:4

“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love.” – John 15:9

Jesus is teaching his disciples about staying close to him as the key to everything. You want to rediscover and experience afresh God’s love for you. All the resources you need to begin to remain in Christ are here in this app!

2. Spend time exploring God’s Word.

It is important you also discover what the Bible says about God, you, life, and eternity.

You can start reading the Bible available in this app. It’s been a while since you opened the Bible? You can learn more about reading the Bible.

We encourage you to check this app daily and start reading Daily Inspiration available on the Dashboard. In God’s Word, you will find the answers you seek. Be confident that the decisions you are making daily are based on truth. In fact, Jesus promised that the Truth found in the Bible will set us free from whatever has us in bondage. Begin by reading the Gospel of John.

3. Join together with other Christians!

Your spiritual vitality depends on you connecting regularly with your brothers and sisters in God’s family. This “family time” provides mutual encouragement, practical insights about living the Christian life, and direction for fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. Look for a Bible-believing church or group of believers in your locality. Here is more about finding the right church.

Some have moved away from God because of their negative or painful experience related to a local church. If that is the case, God wants to heal and restore you. His promise for an abundant life in love and the kingdom with power, peace, and joy remains unchanged and true for you.

4. Let us know!

We are here to help people on their spiritual journey with Jesus! You can reach us via Message in this app. Go to the main menu, and under Community, you can tell us about the rededication of your life to Jesus. We love to hear your story!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

60100.1 Introduction

When you have asked Jesus Christ into your life, it is important to begin to learn about the wonderful life God has planned for you. Jesus promises to take our ordinary, self-centered lives, and make them exceptional and rewarding. 

It only makes sense that the One who created us knows what is best for our lives and can fill them with meaning and focus. By letting Jesus direct your life, you will truly experience purposeful living and a life filled with adventure. 

In his booklet, My Heart, Christ’s Home, Robert Boyd Munger wrote about how Jesus can make this difference in our lives. When Munger gave his heart to Christ, he imagined Jesus as the new guest he had invited into his home. Munger explains how his relationship with Christ changed everything else in his life. 

“One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. Something happened at the very cen­ter of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. 

He built a fire on the hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellow­ship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will. 

In the joy of this new relationship I said to Jesus Christ, ‘Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to You. Let me show You around.’” 

Munger writes of the different areas of his life as “rooms” of a house that Jesus now resided within. He imagines Jesus looking around his house, offering to change each room, “removing the filth and making it warm and clean.” 

For example, the “Study” of his heart represents the books and magazines he read. For us today that would include the TV programs that we watch and the Internet sites we visit. Ashamed of the things he had been putting into his mind, Munger writes, 

“Red-faced, I turned to Him and said, ‘Master, I know that this room needs to be cleaned up and made over. Will You help me make it what it ought to be?’ ‘Certainly!’ He said. ‘I’m glad to help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out!’” 

One room, the closet, was so private Munger felt ashamed. But Jesus reminded him that His light can change even the darkest areas of our lives. 

Munger’s story illustrates how Jesus can bring meaning and purpose to your life as you surrender to Him and apply God’s promises to your life. These promises are contained in His Word, the Bible. 

The Bible tells us that it is God’s will that we grow in our relationship with Christ, and live the tremendous life He planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). As we study and apply God’s Word to our lives, we really begin to live a life that finds its purpose in Jesus Christ. This course is all about the adventure we experience in life when we let our relationship with Jesus direct our lives. 

Running a Marathon 

If you have made the decision to receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you have begun an exciting journey with Christ that will never end. 

The Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint. At the beginning of a race, competitors always feel great and have lots of energy. However, you can’t expect the emotions that you are feeling as you begin your walk with Christ to carry you through when the pressures of daily life are upon you. 

Running a marathon requires a great deal of time in training. But training time definitely pays off in helping a runner to run a better race. 

In order for you to run your best race for Christ, you need to spend time in training. Is Christ at the finish line, or is He actually running the race for us? God wants you to glorify Him in the Christian life, and is totally committed to your success, and His Holy Spirit will empower you and help you during each mile you run in life. 

60101 1. Becoming a New Person in Christ

Are you certain you would go to Heaven if you died today? God’s Word tells us we can know for sure. 

The material in this section will help you determine the certainty of your eternal future with Christ. Even if you have already invited Christ into your life, it is vital to have the assurance that you belong to Him forever. 

On September 11th, 2001, nearly 3,000 people died in a violent act of terrorism at the World Trade Center. They immediately faced their Maker. None started his or her day with any clue it would be their last day on planet Earth. 

You and I will also face our Maker at some point in the future. Then it will be too late to make a decision to live for God. Are you ready to face your Maker? The Bible says you can be ready. It says that you can be absolutely sure that, as one who trusts Christ, you actually have God’s guaran­tee of His acceptance. 

In order to understand why God created you, why Jesus Christ died, and how you can be assured of eternal life, let’s review what the Bible says about God’s eternal plan. 

How You Got Here 

You are no accident! (See Psalm 139:13-18.) The Bible tells us that God created everything from nothing—and the Bible also says that it was mere “finger work” for Him. There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on the entire Earth, yet God says you are more important to Him than all of them put together. Psalm 139 tells us that God’s thoughts about you as a person are more than all the grains of sand. He thinks about you and me all the time! 

What You Are Here For 

The Bible tells us God is your loving Father, who planned and designed you to be His child for all eternity. He wants you to share in the treasures He has for you in Christ. (See Ephesians 1:3-11.) God could have made you like a robot who had no other choice but to love Him. However, He wanted you to choose to love and obey Him of your own free will. And so God gave you free choice! 

Wrong Choices 

The first man, Adam, was given the choice to love and obey God. When Adam chose to disobey, he began the sad plight of selfishness and rebellion that’s prevalent in our world today. Read Genesis chapter 3 to find out how sin originated. 

The problem is that we all have made wrong choices in life. The Bible calls these wrong choices “sin” which in the original Hebrew language means “missing the mark” … like an archer missing his target. Sin is the reason for wars, terrorism, social injustice, selfishness, greed, jealousy, and addictive behavior, among other things. 

Q. Read Romans 5:12. What does this verse tell us about sin?

Q. What does Isaiah 53:6 say we have done with our choices?

Q. What do Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21, and Jeremiah 17:9-10 say about the human heart?

Q. In Romans 3:23, how many have sinned?

Q. Does that include you?

Separation from God 

The Bible says that God is absolutely pure and holy, and cannot allow unforgiven sinners to pollute His holy presence (Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 59:2). 

The problem is that we all have made wrong choices in life. The Bible calls these wrong choices “sin.” 

Paul told the Roman believers what God’s attitude is toward open rebellion and sin: 

“For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative” (Romans 1:18). 

Q. In Romans 6:23, what is sin’s penalty?

If we were to stop at this point, life would be hopeless and full of despair. But, in spite of our unworthiness, our loving and merciful God found a way to give us hope and favor. And … He paid the ultimate price to do it … His only Son! 

Jesus Christ–God’s Solution 

Here are just a few Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah which were fulfilled by Jesus. Look them up, and write down the specific prophecies that were fulfilled. 

The odds against one person fulfilling merely eight conditions in these prophe­cies would be the same as a blindfolded person picking one special silver dollar from a two-foot-high stack of silver dollars over an area the size of Texas (greater than the entire nation of France). Yet, Jesus Christ fulfilled over two hundred of those prophecies written in the Old Testament … exactly! Jesus’ sinless life quali­fied Him to be God’s perfect sacrifice for all of our sins (Hebrews 9:14). 

Q. Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Read “Was Jesus the Messiah?” on Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecies. 

Jesus Claimed To Be God 

Jesus claimed that He was the “I AM” that God had called Himself in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14-15; John 8:57-59). 

Jesus also made other “I AM” statements of Himself: 

  • “I AM the bread of life” (John 6:35). 
  • “I AM the light of the world” (John 8:12). 
  • “I AM the good shepherd” (John 10:11). 
  • “I AM the door” (John 10:9). 
  • “I AM the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). 
  • “I AM the way…truth…and the life” (John 14:6). 
  • “I AM the vine” (John 15:1). 

Who is Jesus according to the following verses? 

Q. John 1:1-14 ______________________________________________________

Q. John 14:9 ________________________________________________________

Q. Colossians 1:15-20 ________________________________________________

Q. Hebrews 1:1-8____________________________________________________

Q. John 10:30 _______________________________________________________

Q. Philippians 2:6-11_________________________________________________

Q. Colossians 2:9 ____________________________________________________

Q. Revelation 22:12-16 _______________________________________________

All the evidence points clearly to the fact that Jesus Christ is God! 

Sometimes it’s hard for people to accept the fact that Jesus is God because they can’t see Him. One of Jesus’ disciples, “doubting Thomas,” was like that. Read his story in John 20:24-29. 

Q. What convinced Thomas?

Q. What convinced you?

Read “Did Jesus Claim to Be God?” for evidence about Jesus’ claim to be God.

Jesus Died On The Cross 

The religious leaders knew Jesus was making statements that only God could make and accused Him of blasphemy against God (John 10:33). In an unlawful trial, they convicted Him and turned Him over to the Romans to have Him executed. Jesus then was beaten mercilessly, nailed to a cross between two thieves, and buried in a heavily guarded tomb. All hope seemed lost. 

Jesus Conquered Death! 

But, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day…just as He had promised. (Matthew 16:21). Historical records from eyewitnesses testify that Jesus Christ was then seen alive by more than 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He is alive today! 

Read “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” for evidence about Jesus’ resurrection. 

  • Buddha is dead. 
  • Muhammad is dead. 
  • Confucius is dead.
  • JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE! 

Jesus’ disciples fled in fear when He went through the torture of the cross, but they became men of great courage when they saw Him alive after three days! They lost all fear— even when, later, they too were tortured to death for their faith. Wow! Isn’t that incredible? Jesus Christ is alive today! 

The Bible calls Jesus the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-16). 

And, it states that Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power and great glory (see Zechariah 14:4 and Luke 21:27). 

“There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them” (Acts 4:12). 

Jesus told His disciples: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 

God’s Free Gift 

The truth is that Jesus Christ paid for all your sins on the cross … and has given you direct access to God. God’s perfect justice is totally satisfied by the blood of Jesus. He “bought” you, and there are no “returns” (Hebrews 7:25; 9:12). 

But, you may be wondering, “What about all the good things I’ve done in my life?” 

What do the following verses tell us about who is responsible for your salvation? 

Q. Romans 5:8_____________________________________

Q. Ephesians 2:8-9______________________________________

Q. Titus 3:5-6______________________________________

Q. 1 Peter 3:18____________________________________

Eternal life is a gift from God. You cannot do anything to earn it. 

However, like any gift, you can choose to accept or reject it. It’s your free choice. 

How to Join God’s Family 

Q. If you had been one of the victims at the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, what would you have said to God if He had asked you, 'Why should I let you into heaven?'

Q. According to 1 John 5:11-13, and John 3:15-18, what is the one requirement of having eternal life in heaven?

In the original Greek language, the word “believe” means to: trust in, cling to, rely upon. In other words, “believe” in the original Greek language is an active faith … much like the faith rock climbers have in the rope to hold them secure. Becoming a Christian is putting your faith in Jesus’ death for you on the cross, and in His resurrection for your eternal life. 

Faith versus Feelings 

Christianity is a relationship with Christ—based on faith alone! Your faith is to be based on the facts in the Bible … not feelings (See 2 Timothy 3:16). Faith in Christ may result in feelings … and often does. But, emotions are changeable, and you can’t depend upon them. You can only depend on what God says in His Word! 

Accepting God’s Forgiveness 

The most important decision you will ever make in life is to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Coming to Jesus is about giving your life to Him and accepting God’s forgiveness by faith. 

However, as Robert Munger discovered, Jesus wants to change your life from being self-centered into a purposeful life that pleases Him. 

Personal Invitation 

In order to receive God’s forgiveness for your sins, you must personally invite Jesus Christ into your life (John 1:12). God knows your thoughts and motives. He desires you to come to Him in faith and humble­ness, thanking Him for His death for you on the cross. You receive Jesus Christ into your life by admitting your sinfulness and by accepting His forgiveness for your sins through His death on the cross. 

Q. Have you ever personally invited Jesus into your life? If so, when?

If you haven’t ever invited Jesus into your life, simply pray the following words, trusting Him to answer you. 

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for all my sins. Thank you for giving me eternal life, which you made possible by your death and resurrection. I receive You as my Savior by faith, and desire You to be Lord of my life.” 

Q. Write your own prayer to God and date it as a record. Also, write down any thoughts and feelings you have as you make this commitment to God.

Where Are You Going After You Die? 

Q. Read 1 John 5:11-13. If you have Jesus Christ in your life, what are you sure of?

Q. Once you have put your faith in Christ, is there anything that can separate you from God’s love? What does Romans 8:38-39 tell us?

Q. Will Christ ever leave you? What does Hebrews 13:5 have to say?

Q. For how long will God forgive your sins? Read Hebrews 8:12.

As God’s child He will always love you—even when you fail Him. He will never give up on you—even when you give up on Him. Never quit running the race! 

Your Inheritance in Christ 

As a Christian, you are granted an inheritance. Take time to read the following verses that tell you about your inheritance in Christ, and thank God for giving it to you. 

  • Your sins are completely forgiven (Colossians 2:13-14). 
  • You become a child of God—forever (John 1:12). 
  • Christ actually comes into your life (Revelations 3:20). 
  • The Holy Spirit is your guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:22). 
  • Christ gives you His nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

As you learn to trust God’s Word and grow in Christ, you will experience more and more victory over the enemy’s attacks. Your growth in Christ and your victory over temptation will depend on you following God’s growth plan. 

Growth is God’s Plan for You 

God’s growth plan for you as a Christian is as follows: 

  1. Walk in the Holy Spirit 
  2. Trust God with your life 
  3. Know and trust God’s Word 
  4. Pray to God 
  5. Fellowship with other Christians 
  6. Obey Christ 

It is important to grow in your new relationship with Christ. Spend time going through the remainder of this booklet—looking up the Bible verses—and telling God you want to live the adventure He has planned for you. 

60102 2. The Holy Spirit – God’s Gift to You

When you run a race, such as a marathon, it is your race to win or lose … with­out any help or encouragement. Living for Christ is different. 

When Jesus left the earth after His resurrection, He told his disciples to wait for the “promise” He would send them from his Father. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised” (Luke 24:49). 

The Holy Spirit is called many things in the Bible, but His main role in your life is to be your “Encourager and Comforter” as you embark on your new journey with Christ (see John 16:7-15). 

Without the Holy Spirit, living for Christ is impossible. With Him, you can do anything and everything through Christ (Philippians 4:13)! 

The Indwelling Holy Spirit 

When you invited Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior and Lord, He actually entered your life–and He will be with you forever. You will never be alone! Ephesians 3:16-17 tells us, “He [will] strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” 

As Munger discovered, your invited guest and Lord, Jesus, desire to “settle down” in each “room” of your “house.” He brings warmth, light, and music. Christ lives in you through the Person of the Holy Spirit. 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 

Even though the Holy Spirit is invisible, He is a real person—the Spirit of Jesus (John 14:16-21). 

Use NOTES or keep a separate journal to answer the questions found in this lesson. Read the following verses to find out more about the Holy Spirit: 

Q. Acts 5:3-4 _______________________________________

Q. John 14:16-17 _______________________________________

Q. 1 Corinthians 6:19____________________________________

Yes, the Bible states clearly that just like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is God; one God in three persons. 

The Holy Spirit will take each area of your life which you commit to Him and make it meaningful and purposeful. It won’t happen immediately, and there will undoubtedly be setbacks, but, “He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). 

A New You 

“Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same any­more, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

You are now a totally new creation just like a new butterfly, which was formerly a caterpillar. 

You may not always feel…or act new. But in God’s eyes, you are totally new! 

The Father sees you as one whom his dear Son has purchased with the price of his own blood. You are His royal child! (Hebrews 2:9-11). 

Your Best Friend 

The Bible tells you that Jesus is your best friend. 

Ashley’s Story

“I always put my friends above God. In fact, my life revolved around my friends so much that I began to get involved in reckless behavior just to seem ‘cool’ to others. 

Pretty soon I got involved in drugs, sex and alcohol. My life got out of control, and I felt worthless, with no purpose other than to get ‘high.’ Then I even lost my friends, who called me ‘trash.’ 

One day someone told me that Jesus Christ not only created me, but wanted to be my best friend. I couldn’t believe it at first. Later, I decided to ask Him into my life. Since then, God has given me a new purpose in life and helped me break my addictions. I now have many new friends, but the great­est of all is Jesus Christ. He accepts me for who I am, and tells me that ‘He will never leave or forsake me’” (Hebrews 13:5). 

Ashley discovered what millions of others have discovered about Jesus: He is our best friend. No other friend loves you so much or will stick with you so closely (Proverbs 18:24). Jesus is totally loyal and faithful (Proverbs 20:6). 

More Like Christ 

God’s plan is to change you into Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). Jesus’ Spirit living in you has begun this change, and He will continue his work throughout your life (Philippians 1:6). 

Q. Whose work is it according to Philippians 2:13?

Q. What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Battle of the Will 

We all are assaulted daily by images and desires that are outside the will of God. This includes temptations such as sex outside of marriage, gossip, anger, addictions, and other destructive behavior (Galatians 5:17). 

You will be tempted to put other things ahead of Christ. Although there is nothing wrong with money or material success, it is very easy to get so focused on possessions and success, that God becomes secondary to personal ambition. God wants to be your first and highest focus in life … and you will only be truly satisfied when you give Him his rightful place. (Matthew 6:33). 

The apostle Paul writes about the struggle to live for Christ. In Romans 7, Paul writes about how he had the desire to live for Christ, but how he kept failing his Lord. He learned that this battle of his flesh versus the Spirit can only be won when we surrender our wills to the Holy Spirit. Paul explains in Romans 8 how he was able to achieve victory through the Holy Spirit. 

As long as you live, you will also have your own flesh with you, and its desire for self-gratification. Life will be a continual battle between the desire to do things your way…or Christ’s way. 

Q. What does Galatians 5:16-18 say about this warfare?

Choosing to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading will always be the right choice! 

Q. According to Galatians 5:16-23, contrast the two different lives: The Self-Controlled Life

Q. According to Galatians 5:16-23, contrast the two different lives: The Spirit-Controlled Life

The “Filling” of the Holy Spirit 

The Bible says: “So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16). 

The word “filled” means to be directed and controlled. A basketball player voluntarily puts himself under the control of his coach. He does this so he can play his best … and win the game. 

The player is not a robot. But he freely chooses to let his coach direct him, be­cause he wants to play well … and win! 

Q. What does Ephesians 5:18 tell us?

A New Way to Think 

God’s plan for you is to mold you into the image of Christ. This life-long process is the work of the Holy Spirit…as you give Him control of your life (Romans 8:29). There is tremendous freedom in giving control over to Him. You will no longer be imprisoned to self-centered cravings and passions. If they reappear in your life, remember that the Holy Spirit is always there to help restore you to fellowship with Christ. 

The Holy Spirit will gradually conform us into the image of Christ as we submit ourselves to Him. Of course, we will never be totally like Christ until we are with Him in Heaven. 

Two Types of Christians 

The circles below represent two types of Christians and the thrones represent who is in control. 

The circle on the left depicts a Christian who has given his/her life to Christ but has chosen to rule his/her own life. All activities, interests, desires, and choices are self-directed, leading to a life of spiritual frustration and defeat (represented by the arrows). Galatians 5:19-21 describes the Christian who has self at the center of his life. 

The circle on the right depicts a Christian who has put Christ as the focus of his life. All activities, interests, desires, and choices are directed by Christ resulting in harmony with God’s plan. This is the abiding life, which results from being obedient to the Word of God. Galatians 5:19-23 describes the vast difference between a Christ-directed life and a self-directed life. The key to yielding your life to the Holy Spirit is “think right.” 

“I plead with you to give your bodies to God … When you think of what He has done for you, is that too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1). 

It is God’s great love for you that should be your motivation to trust the Holy Spirit completely with your life. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). 

Todd’s Story 

“For three years I had been consumed with the desire to join the elite club for ‘cool’ guys in my high school … the ‘Mavericks.’ Before coming to Christ, I would have ‘sold my soul’ to have been asked to join. Although I was a Christian, I thought it would still be okay … even though it was a drinking club. 

I began to seriously think about going all out for Christ, and putting aside things that were self-destructive. Finally I decided to make a decision by the end of the week. 

It was during that week that I got asked to join the Mavericks! I immediately knew that the stakes were high, and that Satan was try­ing to derail my decision. I didn’t give him the pleasure: and turned my life completely over to God. God gave me true freedom … and a purposeful life!” 

A New Way to Live 

As Romans 12:1 says, giving your life to the Holy Spirit is a decision … a free choice for you to make. It is done by simply putting your life into the hands of a trustworthy God. 

Just as you came to Christ by faith for the forgiveness of your sins, you must by faith ask the Holy Spirit to control your life. 

When you think of what He has done for you … and how much He loves you … is there any other choice? 

In response to Christ’s love for you, simply pray the following: 

“Dear Lord, I want You to change my life from being self-centered into one that is Christ-centered. I confess my sinful thoughts and actions, and give You, Holy Spirit, control of my life right now.” 

Q. What does this commitment mean to you?

Jesus will take you just as you are … and begin re-weaving the strands in your life … when you come back to Him in confession and repentance. God’s Word says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

60103 3. Faith – The Key to Walking in the Spirit

It is by faith that God’s power to live for Christ and walk in the Holy Spirit is available to you! 

Use NOTES in this app or keep a separate journal to answer questions found in this lesson and study notes for your reference.

Q. What does Hebrews 11:6 say about faith?

Many people think that living for Christ means helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and living morally. However, as C. S. Lewis points out, “Mere morality is not the end of life. You were made for something quite different from that … The idea of reaching ‘a good life’ without Christ is based on a double error. First­ly, we cannot do it; and secondly … we have missed the very point of our existence.” 

Lewis explains that the point of our exis­tence centers on the tremendous inheritance we have in Christ as His children. Living for Christ is not our duty as His slaves, but our privilege as His sons and daughters. In other words, God accepts us perfectly regardless of our performance. 

God tells us that living for Christ is not accomplished by doing what Jesus did, but rather by letting Him live His life through us by faith. Helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and living morally should be done from a heart of gratitude rather than out of compulsion. We are to live by faith–not works. 

As we live by faith, Jesus’ love will shine through us. Faith in Christ, over time, will result in obedience to God’s Word, even though there will be ups and downs (James 2:17). 

Your faith will continually be tested. The Bible says the Christian life is like a battlefield with three specific enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Satan). 

Paul tells the Ephesian believers that the only way to defeat these enemies is to trust God and depend upon His Word, the Bible. 

Q. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What are the keys to winning the battle over these enemies?

Emotionally Charged … But No Power 

Jesus was giving his disciples final instructions before He went back to His Father. They were all emotionally charged after His resurrection … and ready to give up everything to follow Him. 

But Jesus knew they were not ready. Even after three years of His training and teaching them, they didn’t have the strength to live the life He had called them to live. They would fail miserably if they tried to live for Christ in their own strength! 

Jesus knew they needed His power. He told them, “But you are to be given power when the Holy Spirit has come to you” (Acts 1:8). 

Feelings Are Fickle 

Many believers have mistaken the Holy Spirit’s power for an emotional feeling or euphoria. Sadly, when the emotions and feelings depart … they think they have lost the Holy Spirit’s power. They don’t believe in God’s promise: “I will never leave or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). 

Q. Why are feelings not enough?

The power the Holy Spirit brings to you is much more than emotions or feelings … although they may be part of it. Trying to live for Christ without the Holy Spirit is like driving a Ferrari without gasoline–powerless. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit gives us: 

  • Power to abide in Christ and love others. 
  • Power to overcome trials. 
  • Power to overcome temptation. 
  • Power to overcome sin. 
  • Power to produce fruit. 
  • Power to obey Christ. 

Jesus does not give you a list of rules to follow. Rather, He empowers you by His Holy Spirit to live a life of obedience. 

Belief Causes Behavior 

How we act and behave is motivated by what we think. If we think we have a better plan for our lives than God does, we will chase after self-centered pursuits. 

Many people fill their lives by chasing after money, sex, or toys, thinking it will bring them happiness. They think, “He who dies with the most toys, wins!” As a result, they waste their lives. 

Other people leave God out of their lives because they believe life will be boring. They believe God is against fun … and doesn’t care about their dreams. They don’t want to trust Him with their future. 

The Bible says that God loves you so much that He desires and plans the very best for your future. The psalmist tells us: “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4). 

If you accept God’s Word as truth and follow Him, He will give you desires that are in alignment with His will. 

Q. What does Romans 8:32 say about God’s trustworthiness?

Q. Are you ready to make the truth of God’s Word the foundation of your beliefs?

Overcoming Doubt 

Joni’s Story 

Joni Eareckson was an attractive, athletic teenager who had everything going her way in life–until she dove head first into a shallow lake … breaking her neck. 

Joni had trusted Christ for salvation in her youth group, but most of her hopes and dreams were for self-fulfillment. Suddenly Joni’s world totally fell apart. She would never walk, or be able to use her hands again! 

Joni’s faith was shaken. Joni says: 

“In those first few months after my injury, the promises of God seemed anything but true … How could I be expected to believe when everything in­side and outside of me screamed just the opposite?” 

Joni struggled greatly until a friend from Young Life named Steve Estes encouraged her to trust God. Through time, and hearing God’s Word, Joni began to believe God’s promises. Joni did overcome her despair by faith–and today runs an international ministry, Joni and Friends, which shares Christ’s love with disabled people all over the world. 

“Today as I look back, I am convinced that the whole ordeal of my paralysis was inspired by God’s love. I wasn’t the brunt of some cruel divine joke. God had reasons behind my suffering, and learning some of them has made all the difference in the world.” (Joni, A Step Further) 

Victorious Faith 

The Bible tells us that it is possible to live a life of victorious faith. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us examples of men and women who trusted God in spite of great adversity and opposition. Such a life pleases God greatly and results in a life of victory over our circumstances. 

Q. Read Hebrews chapter 11. Write down your thoughts about those who had victorious faith.

When God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt He performed many miracles, including drying up the Red Sea so they could escape the armies of Pharaoh. They saw God’s mighty hand at work, but soon forgot and began to doubt His promise to provide for their basic needs. 

God told them through Moses that He had a place of rest for them to dwell in, called the Promised Land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” But all they did was complain and doubt God’s promise. (Read Exodus chapters 3 through 20.) 

They sent 12 spies to scout out the land and discovered it to be a paradise “flowing with milk and honey.” But there were also giants there. When they came back and reported their findings, only Joshua and Caleb were willing to trust God and face the giants. The other 10 scouts were afraid and convinced the doubting Israelites they would be unable to overcome the giants. For the next 40 years, they wandered in the wilderness–unwilling to trust God and enter His place of rest. (Read chapters 13 and 14 in the book of Numbers.) 

Q. What are the giants in your life?

Q. God has a place of rest for you. Read Hebrews 3:7-4:16. According to this passage, how do we enter God’s rest?

Q. What are we warned against?

If you will simply trust the promises in God’s Word, you will discover wonderful rest. That is victorious faith! 

Is there something in your life keeping you from trusting God? If any of the following areas are keeping you from trusting God—confess them to God, and repent (change your thinking), now—before it is too late. 

God can be trusted in all areas of your life. 

Q. Spend some time evaluating the list above, and write down any area in which you need to take prayerful action to change.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” (Romans 12:2) 

Walking in the Spirit is a moment-by-moment decision 

Broken Fellowship 

Every believer sins and breaks fellowship with the Holy Spirit at times (1 John 1:8). Broken fellowship does not mean your sins aren’t forgiven. Jesus paid for all your sins on the cross, once and for all. 

Broken fellowship means that you are not abiding in Christ, and therefore are not experiencing God’s purpose and plan for your life. 

Purposeful Living … Your Choice 

Every moment of your life, the Holy Spirit is waiting to guide you into purpose­ful living. But He always allows you free choice. 

The apostle Paul (formerly named Saul) had been a strong opponent of the early Christians. As a high-ranking Jewish leader, he was angry at everything Christians stood for … and wanted to abolish Christianity and the worship of Christ, even having Christians put to death. 

“On his way to Damascus, Jesus miraculously appeared to him in a vision. When Paul heard and saw Jesus … recognizing Him as Lord … he asked Jesus, ‘What will You have me to do?’” (Acts 9:6). 

Paul’s attitude of willingness to serve Christ is what God wants from you and me. 

“God’s way” in life results in purpose, power, peace, and hope. God wants to direct your life all the time. 

But the sinful part of you will always want your own way … the “self-centered way.” A self-centered life may get high on short-term pleasures, but usually ends up in fear, emptiness, loneliness, and finally despair. 

However, at any moment of your day, you can get back on “God’s Way” and restore fellowship with Him. Simply take the following steps: 

“Spiritual Breathing” 

To better understand how to walk in the Spirit on a moment-by-moment basis, Bill Bright compares it to breathing. When you breathe, you exhale impurities and inhale pure air and oxygen. In “spiritual breathing,” you “exhale” sin–by confession, and “inhale” the Holy Spirit’s control–by faith. (Read Spirit-filled Life by Bill Bright.) 

Once the Holy Spirit is in control of your life, He gives you the power to live for God.

Power to Overcome Trials 

“Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:2-4). 

Lars’ Story 

As an unknown golfer, Lars Hansen had stunned the Canadian golf community by winning the Ontario Bantam Golf Championship at the young age of 13. With his flashy smile, charming good looks, and winsome personality, it seemed like Lars had what it took to bring happiness. 

But an inner void and lack of purpose led him to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. Soon Lars began reading the Bible, and sharing Christ with his friends. After playing collegiate golf in California and graduating in mathematics, Lars began working for a major corporation. 

At age 28, Lars began feeling weak, and was diagnosed with severe kidney failure. He eventually lost his kidneys, his eyesight, and finally his life, at age 35. 

During the seven years that Lars’ athletic body, sight, and mobility deteriorated, his faith in Christ actually deepened. He listened to Christian radio broadcasts, and never asked, “Why?” Even in his deepest pain, he believed that God loved him, and had some unknown purpose for his trial. On his last night, Lars weakly prayed to his heavenly Father, trusting Him with his future. 

Q. Read Romans 8:28. What is God telling you in this verse that you can trust Him for?

Just because you are living in to obedience of God’s Word, does not mean your life will be trouble-free. The real test is whether you are trusting God in spite of your circumstances. 

Power over Temptation 

We all face numerous temptations daily. Being tempted is not a sin; it is normal. 

When tempted, your choice is either to give in or to trust God. Giving in to temptation is sin, and breaks fellowship with God. 

Read the following verse carefully, and apply what it says to any temptations you are currently facing. 

“The temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

In this verse, God tells you how to overcome temptation: 

  • Trust God … that your temptation is normal. 
  • Trust God … for the ability to withstand it. 
  • Trust God … to give you a “way out.” 

Q. In what ways are you trusting God to help you overcome temptation?

Don’t ever say, “The temptation is too strong,” and give in to it. If you are abiding in God, the Holy Spirit has promised to give you the power to withstand temptation. 

Darrel’s Story 

“I was involved in a sexual relationship with Tori whom I had been dating for two years. When I got back from Young Life Camp, I wanted to please my Savior. But I tried to rationalize my behavior– thinking that God might approve. I thought God would understand my needs. 

But, because I wanted to please Christ, I read the Bible to see what it said about sexual purity. I realized the importance of obedience to Christ, and that sex outside of marriage was wrong. I knew though, that I didn’t have the strength to break off the relationship with Tori. 

So, by faith, I asked for the Holy Spirit to em­power me to obey Him. The temptation to have sex with Tori was so strong, that I realized we needed to quit seeing each other. 

When I chose to obey Him and quit having sex with Tori, the Holy Spirit gave me a tremendous peace and joy. Since that decision, life has been truly awesome!” 

Darrel took God seriously, and “ran” from the temptation that could have entrapped him and hindered his walk with Christ. By faith Darrel chose to obey God … and he won a great victory! (See John 14:21.) 

Q. What are some steps you can take the next time you are tempted?

Power over Sin 

Sin can become addictive, but if you yield to the Holy Spirit, He will give you His power to overcome that bondage. 

Matt’s Story 

“Although I was a worship leader in my church, I led a double life. I became addicted to pornography at eleven years of age. As my addiction grew, my cravings became more vile and ugly. Soon I was having all-night sessions on the Internet, and even fantasizing about rape. I was out of control. 

When a godly man told me about the Holy Spirit’s power to break my addiction, I began looking into God’s Word and memorized its promises. I discovered God’s awesome power to overcome my addiction. 

My breakthrough came when I began believing and claiming God’s promises. Whenever I am tempted, I think about a promise in God’s Word that applies to that particular temptation. 

I then simply focus on His Word, and pray for the Holy Spirit to give me strength to overcome. 

There are really four keys to my victory over the bondage of sin: 

First, I needed to take the time to memorize and meditate on God’s promises. I discovered a treasure of God’s many promises throughout Scripture that are vital to victorious living. 

Second, I confess my sins whenever my thoughts are wrong. According to 1 John 1:9, I take Him at his Word that I am forgiven. (Exhale … See “Spiritual Breathing.”) 

Third, I surrender my thoughts and actions to the Holy Spirit by telling Him I want to please Him. (Inhale … See “Spiritual Breathing.”) 

Finally, I spend time with my mentor and other Christians who hold me accountable and encourage me in my walk with Christ. 

As I’ve applied God’s Word to all areas of my life, I have been free from bondage to sin and addiction. God has blessed me with a wonderful Christian wife and family. My wife and I are now teaching others how memorizing God’s promises can help overcome sin and addiction. I feel so free and joyful now that I have turned my life completely over to the Holy Spirit’s control.” 

In the New Testament, we read, “In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan” (Ephesians 6:16). 

If you are involved in a battle over temptation, sin, or addiction to a substance or lifestyle, the power of the Holy Spirit is able to lift you out and give you total victory. Choose to trust Him! 

Power to Bear Fruit 

The Holy Spirit will empower you to bear fruit when you are trusting Him, and abiding in Christ. Abiding in Christ means walking in the Spirit. 

In John, Jesus told his disciples: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

Fruit of the Spirit 

Jesus compared your life to a branch that is totally dependent on the grapevine. The purpose of the vine is to produce big juicy grapes. The more fruit … the more the farmer is pleased. 

The Holy Spirit wants to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life, which is identified as: 

The Fruit of the Spirit results in a heart that God uses to reach others for Christ. (Read John chapter 15.) 

Your Daily Power 

When you get up in the morning, do you call on God’s power to help you through the day’s challenges? 

Q. Who are you depending on in each area below:

You can ask the Holy Spirit to give you His power for all the details of your life. God gives you this great promise that you can make yours every single day: 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear … but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). 

Q. In this verse, what does God tell you is not from Him, and what does He promise to give you?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own under­standing; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Q. What are you trusting God for right now?

60104 4. The Bible – God’s Love Letter to You!

If you received a special letter or email from Jesus … telling you how much He loves you … and giving you the guidance and direction you need for your daily issues … would you read it? Would you keep it, cherish it, memorize it, and continually think about it? 

That’s exactly what the Bible is … it’s God’s love letter to you! God’s Word is as important to your Christian growth as milk is to a new baby. 

Before You Start 

Begin by obtaining a Bible with good references and helps. You may find a modern translation easier to understand. Several websites, such as Biblegateway.com, offers online Bibles for free in different languages. 

The Bible is God’s “Road Map” for Your Life 

If you were trying to drive to a distant small town you had never been to before … would you drive by your emotions and instincts … or would you look at a GPS or road map? 

While the road map won’t tell you what’s just around the curve, or how bumpy the road is … it will keep you from heading in the wrong direction, giving you guidance for your trip. 

The Bible provides the “road map” for your journey with God. It gives you God’s wonderful promises for each step of the way. As you read through the next few pages, you will learn how to use this map to help you grow and become more mature in Christ. 

Changing Habits 

Every day you do things out of habit. You get up, eat breakfast, shower, get dressed, go to school, go to work, etc. 

In order to make God’s Word part of your life–you need to make it one of your daily habits. Pick a time, (mornings work best for many people), then pick a quiet spot and spend time reading the Bible and thinking about how it applies to your life. Once you have done it for thirty days, you will have established a habit that will change your life! 

God’s Viewpoint 

The Bible gives you God’s answers to all of life’s most important questions: 

  • God’s Nature 
  • Your Purpose 
  • How To Grow In Christ 
  • Moral Decisions 
  • Relationships / Sex 
  • Emotions / Comfort
  • Trials / Death 

“For the Word of God is full of living power…It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12). 

Your Mind…A “Vat” 

Every moment of every day, your mind is flooded with information … most of it from the world’s viewpoint. 

Your life and the decisions you make are greatly influenced by what goes into your “Vat”! 

In order for God’s viewpoint to prevail in your life, you must get a good “dose” of God’s Word … not just a few minutes each day. 

Matthew Henry once said: “If you want to get close to God, you must study His Word.” 

Q. How does Colossians 3:16 apply to you personally?

Getting Fed 

All of these ways to make God’s Word a bigger part of your life are important. Let’s look at each of them. 

1. How to Hear God’s Word 

There are several ways to hear God’s Word taught: 

  • At Church 
  • Bible Teachers/Schools 
  • Christian Seminars
  • Bible Web Pages 
  • Bible Studies 
  • Bible Tapes CDs/DVDs 
  • Christian Radio 
  • Christian Books/Audio Books 

Q. How are you hearing God’s Word taught, and what can you do to hear it more often?

Q. Hearing God’s Word should make you want to read and study it for yourself. What does Acts 17:11 say?

Whenever you hear God’s Word taught, attempt to learn what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach you personally, taking good notes, and writing down your thoughts. 

2. How to Read God’s Word 

When reading the Bible, it’s best to read it slowly and thoughtfully. Have a good pen or marking pencil handy to write down your thoughts and underline key verses. 

Make it fun. Go on a “hunt” to find insights God has for you. Then write down the references so you can locate them later. 

If this is your first adventure in reading the Bible, it’s best to start in the New Testament, reading at least one of the four Gospels. Many teachers recommend starting with John. 

The book of Acts tells about the actions of the early Christians. Acts is a “must-read” for all Christians. 

After Acts, you’ll find the letters to the first Christian churches, which give instructions and guidance for daily living. 

And finally, in the book of Revelation, you will see how Christ is going to end all things in this world and begin ruling as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” It’s amazing! 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipping for every good thing God wants us to do” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

Q. What book in the Bible are you currently reading? What are you learning?

3. How to Study God’s Word 

There are several ways you can study the Bible: 

  • Study an Individual Book (e.g. Acts) 
  • Study a Passage or Chapter (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5) 
  • Study a Biblical Theme (e.g. Love) 
  • Study a Verse (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:17) 
  • Study a Biblical Doctrine (e.g. Redemption) 

The reason you need to study God’s Word is to gain insight into who God is, and what He wants to do in your life. 

Here is one example of how you can read and think about God’s Word (from Bert Harned): 

A Study of “Discouragement” 

“Do you get ‘discouraged, depressed’? I have found an instant cure for it! YES! It is in Psalm 118:6-8. The NLT says, ‘The Lord is for me so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me. He will help me.’”

It was a beautiful cloudless morning when I noticed these verses, and took the time to think about them. I wrote one word at a time down on the left margin and took time to think as deeply as I could about each word, making notes as I went. Start like this: 

The Lord: the mighty, almighty, creator, sovereign, loving, glorious God. That’s who is for me! 

Is: means right now…presently, an absolute certainty! 

For: means He knows me, has my best interests at heart, is not against me, He is on my side, and knows what is best for me. 

Me: means personally, not in general, but specifically, by name. 

It is awesome and exciting to contemplate me having such intimacy … with God Himself!! 

“Now it’s your turn; find a quiet place and mentally chew your way through these verses for yourself.” 

Here is another way you can study God’s Word on a daily basis (with a scripture passage included for you to use as well). 

Q. Read 2 Corinthians chapter five, in at least two versions of the Bible if possible, and write what 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 means to you personally

4. How to Memorize God’s Word 

The “Topical Memory System” is a proven way to memorize God’s promises. You can start with the “Beginning with Christ” packet of five key verses produced by The Navigators (www.navigators.org). We also recommend you select some key verses in this Bible study to memorize. You might want to write them down on small cards that you can take with you and review daily. 

One reason to memorize Scripture is that our memories are short. 

After 24 hours, you may accurately remember: 

  • 5% of what you hear 
  • 15% of what you read 
  • 35% of what you study 
  • 57% of what you see and hear 
  • 100% of what you memorize 

Noted author and counselor, Henry Brandt, in his book, The Heart of the Problem, says: “I still consider Bible memorization the single most important aid in my Christian life and in my counseling.” 

It’s actually easy to memorize verses: 

  • Start with one verse. 
  • Repeat it several times. 
  • Explain it in your own words. 
  • Say it to a friend. 
  • Test and challenge each other to apply it. 

Once memorized, review it without looking for 30 days. It will be yours to take with you wherever you go! 

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word and following its rules … I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9, 11) 

5. How to Meditate on God’s Word 

Meditating on God’s promises throughout the day will help you walk in the Spirit. Whenever something stressful happens (and it will), think about a verse that applies to your situation. 

Q. What does Philippians 4:6-7 say?

Power over Bondage 

In 1977, New York City was in turmoil because a troubled twenty-four-year-old man, David Berkowitz, whom the media labeled, “Son of Sam,” went on a killing spree. His target was young women, and before he was finally caught, five young women and one man were dead. 

During his time in prison, he was approached by a young prisoner named Ricky Lopez, who told David that regardless of what he had done, Jesus loved him and died for him. 

Ricky gave David a Bible. As David Berkowitz read the Bible, God’s power began breaking him of his addiction and bondage. In time, the Word of God brought him to a point of complete repentance—and the “Son of Sam” surren­dered his life completely to Christ. 

Today, David Berkowitz is the Chaplain’s Assistant at Sullivan Correctional Facility. (Read this, and other stories of God’s transforming power in Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala.) 

David Berkowitz was transformed because he replaced man’s viewpoint with God’s viewpoint. And, He believed God’s view­point! He put the right “stuff ” in his VAT. 

Getting rid of the “junk” in your VAT, and replacing it with God’s Word takes time. The amount of time you commit to the Bible is probably the single best indicator of your walk with Christ and the best predictor of your future growth in Christ. 

“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts, and make you wise. Use His words to teach and counsel each other” (Colossians 3:16). 

Q. Read Psalm 1:1-3, and write your thoughts

As you run the race God has set ahead of you, make sure your roots are deeply planted in God’s Word.