FROM THE KEYBOARD

You have the Father's undivided attention and He is waiting for you to notice. And not only His attention, but He loves you with an undivided affection and His desire is for you to know this. Friend, you are not overlooked by the One who has overcome.

The hardest aspect of going through adversity is often time. But in time, you will see that the thing that caused you so much agony is the exact same thing that developed you the most spiritually. And the best thing to do in the midst of an affliction isn't to watch the time slowly tick away, but to fix your eyes on Jesus whose grace is sufficient for the day.

God doesn't waste anything from the trail of our lives. He takes the stuff that we think is left behind with no value--the messes, the confusions, and even the devastations--and He fashions it all into something worthy to be used for His glory and our good. Nothing is wasteful to a God who is faithful.

The best thing we can do each day is to position our heart in a place where we can experience God. Whether it be prayer with Him, stillness before Him, or devotions in Him, the heart is strongest when it is bent toward Him.

Grace wasn't granted so we could sin freely. But rather, grace was granted so we could be free of sin. You see, God's grace isn't just an eraser that wipes up our mistakes, but it's also a buffer that keep us from making mistakes. It is out of the glorious grace given to us in Jesus that we can live a life victorious.

Nobody can curse what God has blessed. Consider how a “Merry Christmas” has nothing to do with presents and everything to do with His presence. Again, having a "Merry Christmas" isn't about being liked by the crowd, but it does signify that not even a “King Herod” can take you out. Remember, the devil doesn’t fight us because of where we are; he fights us because....