God doesn't penalize you for great faith.

This is an obvious, yet intriguing statement, because almost everyone else will.

Have you ever decided to step out in faith only to be met by everyone trying to talk you out of it?

There is an endless supply of opinions on how irresponsible or unlikely it is to get what you are believing God for.

This opposition throughout our lives makes us think, subconsciously, that even God gets upset when we believe for things almost no one else will.

Well, I've got good news for you: God is pleased with great faith.

Remember that the next time others express their disapproval. Elevate God's opinion of the matter and stay strong in faith.

Living life completely led by the Holy Spirit is rare.

Not because people don’t want to. It’s just a hard thing to grasp in a world that’s led by human ambition.

Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father doing. He had no agenda or plan other than to listen to God and do what He said.

That’s why Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow, but to simply trust God for what we need today.

It’s also why God fed the Israelites manna on their way to the promised land. Each day had its own provision. If they tried to store it for another day, it spoiled.

This is a picture of what it’s like to be led by the Holy Spirit.

No plan of our own. We live as Jesus did, only doing what the Father says while trusting Him to take care of our every need.

Most people call this kind of life irresponsible. But trusting God is never irresponsible.

Being afraid to get it wrong is not the fear of the Lord.

When you are hesitant to act on a leading from the Holy Spirit, or question if it really is Him, it is not the fear of the Lord but the fear of messing up.

This ungodly fear reveals we need a deeper revelation of God's love.

We must truly believe that He is patient and kind. He is not irritable or keeping a record of wrongs. He never gives up, never loses hope, and endures through every circumstance.

Perfect love casts out the fear of messing up.

And the fear of the Lord elevates God to the highest place in our lives, causing us to recognize that He makes all things good. Even the things we mess up.

Righteousness is still a big deal.

God didn’t retract His requirement to live pure and holy. It’s so important to Him that He made a way for us to actually pull it off.

Jesus was never meant to be an excuse for living sloppy lives. Not even close.

He is the only man to ever live a perfectly righteous life. And He offered Himself as a sacrifice so we could trade our sinful selves for His righteousness.

This divine trade makes us the very righteousness of God. We are completely forgiven, and the power of sin is broken.

If sin is still a burden in your life, you need to awaken to the fact that it no longer has power over you.

Sure, it will still try to woo you into its trap. But you should just chuckle every time it tries and say, “No way. Your power no longer has an effect on me. I’m the righteousness of God in Christ. And for every temptation, He provides a way out. This is me, taking my way out.”

Jesus didn't tell you to weather the storm.

When opposition comes as a great storm, you are not to crouch down and bear it. Don't even hide from it.

Our instruction from God in Ephesians 6 is to be strong in the Lord. As the storm rages, we are to stand firm in His protection.

And when we do, we'll still be standing when the storm is over. Not storm-battered and worn out, but full of joy and peace.

If the battle is wearing you out, it's time to stop fighting. The instruction is not to fight, but to stand firm.

Immoveable. Unshakeable. Unbothered. Confident in God's victorious outcome.

Let the storm rage and keep your eyes on Jesus. Just think of all the energy the enemy is wasting on his defeat.

Our level of commitment to the body of Christ is directly related to our progress as believers.

Every tactic trying to pull you away from the gathering is the realm of darkness trying to stunt your progress.

Jesus said, "If you love me, feed my sheep."

Genuine love of Jesus Christ results in doing your part within the church. It's when we all take our place that believers are properly fed spiritually.

If you say you love Jesus but are not committed to caring for His body, you are deceiving yourself.

It's time for believers to value and love the church like Jesus does.

Yes, it’s imperfect. But not for long. Jesus is using the gifts He gave—the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher—to transform us into a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.