Welcome to Christ Journal

Next time you’re walking in the woods, imagine what’s taking place under your feet. As the roots of trees come into contact with one another they form an underground support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, another to sunlight, etc. A networking is taking place that strengthens them all. This is what Paul had in mind: ‘[Under His direction], the whole body is fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.’ Some of us independent types have difficulty when it comes to networking. We fly solo, until we crash and burn! Eventually our pain, not our brain, shows us our need for things like: (1) Mercy. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). What motivates us to show mercy to others? God’s mercy to us. You’ll never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. (2) Understanding. ‘Be sympath

Next time you’re walking in the woods, imagine what’s taking place under your feet. As the roots of trees come into contact with one another they form an underground support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, another to sunlight, etc. A networking is taking place that strengthens them all. This is what Paul had in mind: ‘[Under His direction], the whole body is fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.’ Some of us independent types have difficulty when it comes to networking. We fly solo, until we crash and burn! Eventually our pain, not our brain, shows us our need for things like: (1) Mercy. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). What motivates us to show mercy to others? God’s mercy to us. You’ll never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. (2) Understanding. ‘Be sympath

Build up your faith! A Roman soldier’s shield protected him from head to toe. It was made of iron, upholstered in thick layers of fabric, and saturated in water when going to battle. Consequently the flaming arrows of the enemy fizzled on contact. Getting the idea? Paul writes, ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one’ (NIV). Satan can’t penetrate a heart that’s pure, saturated in Scripture and fortified by faith. That’s why Jesus told Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ (Luke 22:32 NKJV). It’s your faith that’s under attack; it’s your faith that needs to be fed and nurtured; it’s your faith that sustains you in life’s battles! Jesus said, ‘Have faith in God’ (Mark 11:22). Note, He didn’t just say, ‘Have faith in something bigger than yourself.’ No, He said, ‘Have faith in God.’ If you’re under attack today claim this promise: ‘He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases s

Build up your faith! A Roman soldier’s shield protected him from head to toe. It was made of iron, upholstered in thick layers of fabric, and saturated in water when going to battle. Consequently the flaming arrows of the enemy fizzled on contact. Getting the idea? Paul writes, ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one’ (NIV). Satan can’t penetrate a heart that’s pure, saturated in Scripture and fortified by faith. That’s why Jesus told Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ (Luke 22:32 NKJV). It’s your faith that’s under attack; it’s your faith that needs to be fed and nurtured; it’s your faith that sustains you in life’s battles! Jesus said, ‘Have faith in God’ (Mark 11:22). Note, He didn’t just say, ‘Have faith in something bigger than yourself.’ No, He said, ‘Have faith in God.’ If you’re under attack today claim this promise: ‘He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases s