If you tend to pray selfish prayers, you are not alone. We all like to talk about ourselves to God–what we want, what we need, what we think he can do to help us. See if you can relate to this scenario: It’s five minutes before a big presentation, an important conversation, or a major event, and you find yourself praying, … Read More
Seeking Wisdom
“Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
The 7 Keys to Setting Effective Deadlines
Deadlines are an important tool. Try to attach one to every task you add to your to-do list. Keep the following seven keys in mind to help you start setting deadlines like a pro: Decide whether the proposed task is worth doing. As mentioned previously, don’t waste your time on activities that either don’t need to be done or could … Read More
Decompress Daily: The Importance of Keeping a Positive, Thankful Outlook
As pastors, we can’t allow negative, anxious thoughts to overwhelm us — at least not for long. After all, we serve a big, amazing God who is greater than all our troubles. When we focus on everything that’s wrong around us, we can become defeated. But if we keep our focus on the things that are going right, we might … Read More
Leaders Persevere in their Purpose
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” —Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Wesley on Who Will Shake the Gates of Hell
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.” – John Wesley (June 28, 1703 – March 2, 1791) “The Father of the Methodists”
The Power of Systems to Grow Your Church
Think about the system you have for getting dressed in the morning. You don’t put on your deodorant until you get out of the shower. You drink your coffee before you brush your teeth. Right? There’s a system to the way you prepare yourself for the day that makes getting out of the house faster and easier. You also have … Read More
The Voice In Your Head: Listening to Your Internal Dialogue
One of the main things that separate us from animals is our ability to think about our thought life, to note an individual thought passing through our minds, analyze it for its truth and worth, and then act accordingly. God gave us this unique ability when he made us in his image. But so often, we let our thoughts run … Read More
Be Not Conformed
“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 learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Spurgeon on Preaching
“Whatever subject I preach, I do not stop until I reach the Savior, the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892), influential 19th Century Pastor and author, known as the “Prince of Preachers”