God loves you. God is always with you. God hears your prayers. God is present in the pain. God will make it all work out for your good. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) Remember this today and trust that God is working everything out for your good. The post Peace for a troubled heart appeared first on Cross of Christ ..read more

What are your weaknesses? Are you proud of them? It’s not good to take pride in things that are wrong or harmful, but did you know you’re allowed to be weak? That you can actually boast in your weaknesses? That is, when you have Jesus. Because Jesus is powerful. Powerful enough to meet and exceed anything lacking with your weaknesses. And he takes his power and lets it rest on you. It’s okay to be weak when you have Jesus. It’s actually better to be weak and have his power rest on you. He shines through. He makes you strong. Incredibly strong. Infinitely stronger than you could ever be without ..read more

What is worth redeeming? Something valuable enough that you’re willing to pay the price to claim it as your own? A 50-cent ice cream cone? Maybe. Your car from impound? More likely. The more valuable it is, the more likely you are to pay even a high price to redeem what you want to be yours. Are you worth redeeming? How much is someone willing to pay to be near you? God wants you to be his. He paid the enormous price of his own Son’s blood. You’re worth that much to him. He says you’re worth it. That means you can be one of God’s people. It means you matter. Because you’ve been redeemed. “Prai ..read more

Memorial Day yesterday was another opportunity to remember those who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice. It’s sobering and humbling to think of those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for our benefit. We’re most grateful to them and their families! For Christians, there’s a kind of Memorial Day remembrance that happens throughout the year. It’s remembering the fallen warrior who gave his life—not just for his country, but for the world. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the battlefield and came back to life so we can be free from sin and death forever. It’s sobering and humbling to think of how ..read more

You can get a new car, a new house, a new book, a set of clothes, and a new tool or toy. Amazingly, in some cases, people can actually get a new heart. But can you get a new heart for your soul? Something more than muscle? Something new inside that’s right and pure? Something free from the baggage of the past and all the guilt and burdens they bring? With God, you can. He takes the old out and puts in a brand new one. A better one. A new spirit. A new heart. Let him operate. The new one is so much better. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26). The post A New ..read more

Once you’ve proved yourself enough? Once you’re good enough? When you die? When you’re in heaven? Ever? How can you know if and when God accepts you? Jesus. He did it all. He’s made you worthy. It’s finished and complete. Believe in Jesus. Let him do all the work for you. Rest in him. If being in him means no condemnation, then God accepts you. Right now. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The post When Will God Accept You? appeared first on Cross of Christ ..read more

Some people are pretty competitive. They just have to win at everything. Others don’t mind coming in second place, or even fourth or fifth. But at some point, everyone enjoys winning. Especially when it matters the most. Nothing could matter more than a person’s final destiny. There’s nothing more critical than knowing what will happen when you die. Ultimately, when facing the trials and disappointments of life, there’s something inside everyone that wants to know they will overcome in the end. You can. When you have Jesus, you will. He triumphed at the cross and when he came back to life. He ..read more

Are there things in this world that bother you? Things that are downright evil? God hates evil, too. Amazingly, he can use evil for good. He takes the things he never wanted, but knew would happen, and decides on a plan before it even happens to harness the bad and accomplish something better. Want proof? Look at Jesus on the cross. It was the work of wicked men. It was a terrible injustice. But God knew it would happen ahead of time. So he made a plan to harness that evil and accomplish something good. Do you know what that good was? He saved the world by Jesus being punishing and dying in ou ..read more

The human heart is a powerful organ. It’s pumping blood and life through the body, beating some 60 to 100 times a minute. But hearts become weak. They eventually fail. They wear out over time or become broken from sorrow. What if your heart could beat forever? With God, it can. He sustains us for now. And even after death, he revives dead, broken hearts. Know God and find your heart’s strength. Believe in God and your heart will beat forever. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). The post My Heart’s Strength appeared first o ..read more

There are storms in life and times of drought. When battered or parched, we need resilience. Especially when it comes to the soul. How do you build soul resilience? It’s not by looking within to find inner strength. Not when we’re parched and have nothing left. It’s not by keeping a stiff upper lip and just trying to weather the storm on your own. Not when you’re weak and out of strength. Strength for the soul comes from the Lord, the God who bolsters his people. He makes them strong. He makes them rooted and healthy. He makes them resilient. Root your trust in him. “Blessed is the one who tru ..read more