There is certainly nothing wrong with desiring to change our lives. But when we couldn’t imagine being happy unless something changes, we have an idol.

Doctrine helps describe the God we must see; application helps us see how to love the God we have seen. But both are useless if the eyes of the heart have not been opened to see and savor the beauty of God.

What about if you gave away all your money, wouldn’t He love you just a little bit more? Nope. What if you went to live on the foreign mission field? No again. What if you finally began to treat your spouse with grace? Nada. What if you took out the trash for her like she asked? She might love you more, but God wouldn’t. What if you went one

Abiding in Jesus means understanding that His acceptance of us is the same regardless of the amount of spiritual fruit we have produced. Ironically, it is only when we understand that His love is not conditioned on our spiritual fruitfulness that we gain the power to become truly fruitful. Only those who abide in Him produce much fruit. In other

Praying means asking repeatedly.

As Martin Luther, the great Reformer, noted about himself, my fear of God’s judgment was producing a hatred for Him that was driving my heart farther and farther away from Him, even if my actions looked, on the surface, more godly.

God gives us material blessings as gifts, and He is glorified when we enjoy them.

46). It is almost like healing jumped from His body as a reflex. The point? God’s help flows out reflexively to those who presume upon His grace and power.

Jesus is the one essential thing that we must have. He is life itself.