I don’t want to be a fall risk. I am still too young for that label. Yet, I seem to be working towards earning the title nonetheless. To be clear, I don’t fall all the time, but I have fallen too much for my liking in the past few years.

My first really bad fall was about 5 years ago, and that one was a doozie! It was completely unexpected, as most falls are. It was a total face plant on concrete that landed me in the ER. It was traumatic for the whole family, as we were on vacation together at the beach and were just returning to our condo from ice cream to settle in for the night and watch a movie together. Instead, I tripped on a curb, kissed the pavement hard, and we spent the next few hours at the hospital. Then I spent the rest of the vacation on the couch with a concussion and severe bruising on my face. It was not what we had planned for our time away, but that’s what we got with a very unexpected fall.

It was a few years until my next fall, which was far less traumatic, but still no fun. This one took place while I was walking through a construction site for my brother’s new home and tripped on the uneven terrain, falling onto the concrete slab for the garage. I got the wind knocked out of me and still have a scar on my knee from that one, but all in all, it was not too bad. It was just my husband and I there at the time, and it didn’t require a doctor visit. So not too bad.

The following summer, however, the fall out of a mini-van was a bit worse. It was definitely a sloppy dismount. I was simply stepping out of the mini-van, not realizing that my foot had gotten caught in the strap of a travel bag until I was falling down out of the van, rather than stepping out as I had planned. That fall got my other knee, and it was pretty bad for a time. The worst part was that I was on my way to the airport when that happened, so I had to navigate the airport and flying home with a very swollen knee that I could not walk on. My knee took quite a while to heal from the fall and gave me a matching scar on both knees, but I recovered and was doing okay, until earlier this week when I experienced my fourth and most recent fall, which is possibly the worst of them, or at least a rival to the first one.

Clearly I thought I needed to up my fall game to outdo what I have done before, and so I did by adding height to the feat. Unconsciously I must have decided it wasn’t enough just to fall to the ground from my 5’5″ stature to see what damage I could do…nooo, I needed to add another two feet by climbing up on a chair. So now I would fall down from up high, and not only that, but I would fall backward! Yes, that is a real fall!…and it was. Ugh! Obviously, the fall was not intended, but it happened as described, and the outcome was quite a spectacle. I fell from the chair, first hitting my right knee, then falling back on my buttocks, and finally, with the momentum still carrying me backward, I smacked the back of my head on the edge of our wooden kitchen table. It was a 10 out of 10 that resulted in another visit to the ER and a whole lot of pain. Thank God, I didn’t break anything or have any serious damage, but my body is definitely hurt and moving very slowly. I am healing little by little, but I think I will feel the impact of this one for a good long while.

So why I am sharing all this with you? Why would I tell you about some of my most vulnerable moments and fears? I am sharing this with you because it got me thinking. I started by saying that I don’t want to be a fall risk, which is true, in the physical sense. But what I have realized as I have thought about this is that we are all a fall risk–falling into sin, that is–and some of the circumstances of my falls offer good lessons for all of us. The Bible tells us, right from the beginning, in Genesis, that “sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (4:7) So we must be alert and aware of the pitfalls that can lead us into sin, so we won’t fall.

One of the first things about falls is that we are not expecting them. They catch us by surprise. This can also be true when we fall into sin. We do not always plan to sin, and yet, can find ourselves there unexpectedly. Sometimes, we end up “tripping” into our sin. Maybe we weren’t paying close enough attention to our environment to be aware of the risk, and before we know it, we “fall” into sinful decisions and behavior. So there is no intent, yet we still end up falling and facing the consequences of that fall.

Sometimes a physical fall is caused by walking on uneven ground, and the same is true for a spiritual fall. The Word of God provides a clear, level path for us to follow. When we trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will make our path straight. (Prov. 3:5-6). But there are those times we are not trusting in Him and following His ways, so our path is no longer straight–it is bumpy and unstable, and can ultimately lead us to fall. When we are not seeking our way in Him, it is too easy to find ourselves going down the wrong path that leads to sin.

We can also end up falling when we are caught on an obstacle. We might not even be aware of it. We think we are doing okay and just keep moving forward expecting everything to work out just fine. It is not until we take the next step that we realize we are caught and about to be tripped up. But by then, it is too late–we are on the way down already. There are many things in our lives that we can get stuck on that will lead us into sin. So before we take a step, we must carefully examine our motives, our intentions and our hearts, so we don’t fall into sin.

Finally, sometimes we fall just because we were doing something stupid–something we know we shouldn’t be doing–you know, like standing on top of a chair instead of using the perfectly good stepstool nearby…that kind of stupid. We don’t like to admit that one too often, but I know I am not alone in this. There are times in our spiritual walk when we are making bad decisions and we are fully aware of it. We are just too caught up in our own plans and determination to think about the consequences. We convince ourselves that we know better and it will be okay. In these moments, there are at times people around us who see the risk and caution us before we take the step–like my husband who said, “Maybe you shouldn’t try to stand up on that chair…why don’t you use the stepstool?” He tried to stop me, realizing that I could hurt myself, but I didn’t listen. I was sure that I could do it without incident. I had done it before and it worked out okay, so why not this time? So instead of heeding the warning, I pressed on, confident in my own stupid decision…and you know the story, I fell. Isn’t it like that with sin too? We all make some less than wise decisions in this life, rationalizing and justifying our choices and trying to convince others as much as we have convinced ourselves that we will be okay…until we aren’t. We have fallen into sin and are facing the consequences of our wayward thinking.

We all will sin. The Bible makes that clear in I John 1:8, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” So we cannot avoid it completely. But it can be avoided; the Bible also makes that clear. We are instructed in various scriptures to refrain from sinning, to flee from it, and to obey God’s Word. God wouldn’t instruct us to do something we cannot do in His power. So we can stop sinning, but we will sin. It’s the ironic dichotomy of living as followers of Christ while still in this fallen world. So we have to be on guard. We have to be aware of the risks and the pitfalls that will lead us down the path of sin instead of the path of righteousness. Then we will sin less. We might still be a fall risk, but we can fall less. And hopefully I will too. 😉

You have probably heard that you should NOT put all your eggs in one basket. It is a common piece of advice given as a means to protect someone from losing everything by focusing solely on one plan or idea. Instead, it would be recommended that someone spread out their choices and keep their options open, so there is a fallback plan if a first idea does not work out.

I remember hearing that wise counsel when I was in high school and looking at colleges. Although I had visited many tables at the college fairs and gathered tons of brochures to bring home, when it was time to apply, I applied to only one. I considered some other possibilities but ultimately decided where I wanted to go and that was it. Even though it made perfect sense to me, my parents, guidance counselors, and teachers did not exactly agree. That’s when I heard it, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!”, they cautioned. It was too big of a risk. What if I didn’t get into the one??

It is actually good advice. It was risky for me to gamble on just one college. If I didn’t get in, I would not only be devastated, but I would be behind my classmates and have to start all over. I could have easily expanded my selection and sent out a few more applications, spread my eggs out a little, you know? But I didn’t. Instead, I put my future on the line. Fortunately for me, this particular situation worked out in my favor. I was accepted into the college of my choice, but it could have ended very differently.

Putting all your eggs in one basket can have some pretty serious consequences depending on what you are facing. Getting into college was a pretty big deal for high school me, but there are even greater life-impacting circumstances that could be put at risk when you limit your options. So all in all, it seems safe to say that this idiom holds true…with one, big exception–when the basket you are putting all your eggs in is GOD.

No matter what situation you face, or how high the stakes are, you can never lose by putting all of your hope and trust in God and nothing else. HE is the one basket where all your eggs are safe. He is Plan A, and no other plan is needed. In Him, there is no risk. He is not a gamble. He does not lack. How do I know this? Because the Bible tells me so. When you examine the full counsel of God’s Word, you come away with confidence in knowing He is a sure bet. From beginning to end, you will find One who never fails.

In Proverbs, we learn that “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (19:21). This tells us that the wisdom we find here on earth is imperfect and limited, whether it is my own wisdom or advice I seek from others. We may think of a myriad of different plans or ideas, but ultimately, we are not the ones in control. God’s purposes and plans will stand. His purposes alone are sure. So if we have decisions to make or directions to find, why not seek the One who has the blueprint written in stone?

Not only are His plans secure, but His plans are also good. In Jeremiah 29:11, we find this promise: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.” God has a plan in mind for each and every one of our lives. In fact, Psalm 139:16 says, “Every day of my life was written in your book before any one of them came to be.” In other words, His plan for you was already laid out and written down in the heavenlies before you were even a twinkle in your daddy’s eye. So yes, God has a purpose and plan for you, and it is for your good. Do you hear that?–for your good. Now that does not mean that everything we experience will feel good or even be a “good” circumstance. But when we are walking in His purposes, we can trust that His plan will be to accomplish good in us and for us.

God can handle anything we face. Our God is a strong and mighty God–there is nothing He can’t do! We see that over and over in the Word. In Jeremiah 32:27, speaking for Himself God says, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” To which the only answer is NO! In the New Testament, Jesus echoes the words of His Father when He says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Nothing is impossible for God! We can trust Him with everything.

So when we have decisions to make or direction to seek, it is wise not to put all of our eggs in one basket, unless that basket is the wise, loving, capable hands of God. Your future is always safe with Him.

Have you ever been in one of those situations when what you were planning doesn’t quite work out, so you have to pivot and go to Plan B? Maybe it was the perfect outfit you planned for the day being doused by a cup of coffee–and not just a Tall, but a Venti!–so you have to go to Plan B and find something else to wear. Or when the weatherman promised a gorgeous day of sun, sun, and more sun for the outdoor event you planned, but instead you get rain and lots of it. You need a new plan–Plan B.

What happens though when the unexpected situation is not just the need for a new clothing ensemble or even a new indoor event strategy? What happens when the unexpected twist could result in an unwanted pregnancy? The original plan didn’t include failed contraception or unprotected sex, but that is what happened, and now there is a lot more at stake. What do you do then? No need to worry, there is still a Plan B.

In 1999, “Plan B,” an emergency contraception pill, was approved for prescription use here in the United States. Fourteen years later, in 2013, its access was expanded to over-the-counter use with no age restrictions. Also known as the “morning-after pill,” Plan B is intended to be a backup method to birth control. When the contraceptive method of choice doesn’t work, or one isn’t used at all, Plan B steps in to attempt to prevent pregnancy. It’s a great insurance policy for a hyper-sexual culture, with its popularity and use increasingly growing every year. Current reports state that 3 in 10 women have used Plan B.

What is the message, however, for young people when there is a “get out of jail free card” for unprotected sex? Emergency contraception was something that was once intended for exactly what its name states–an emergency. In fact, its first intent was for rape victims. But now, the morning after pill can be accessed at any drug store, by any person, at any age. It has even been made available in vending machines on a number of college campuses across the country. The message is that young people don’t have to worry about facing the consequences of their decisions. If things don’t work out the way they hoped, there’s a little pill that is as easy to get as a candy bar that will fix it for them. Don’t worry, you can get Plan B.

But then what happens when Plan B doesn’t work? There is still no reason to fear because now there is Plan C! That’s right! You may not have heard about it just yet, but I promise you will. I am sure you have heard of what Plan C actually is, but the branding of its new, catchy name is just getting out of the gate…and it is growing.

Plan C is the new, clever way that the abortion industry has decided to refer to the Abortion Pill. If you search “Plan C” on Google, ads like this come up:

Missed period? There’s Plan C – Abortion Pills in the Mail
There is a Plan C. Get safe, effective, FDA-approved abortion pills. Plan C is a safe, effective, FDA-approved way to get an abortion. Confidential. Multiple Languages. Private Mailing Address.

Especially after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, and many states have since restricted abortion access, the abortion industry is fighting back by making the abortion pill available any way it can. Not only is it being offered by mail, but there are mobile medical clinics popping up in different areas of the country to expand access to Plan C.

The same message that Plan B promotes is taken a step further with Plan C. So even if a young woman faces the unintended and unwanted consequence of having sex and is now pregnant, she still has a way out. There is a pill that can take care of that. She can go online, place an order like she probably does for countless other products, and a solution comes to her door–Plan C. Just a couple of pills over a couple of days and her problem will go away. If only it were that simple.

The problem with both of these “plans” is that they don’t account for the unseen consequences of sexual activity or the termination of a pregnancy. Neither Plan B, nor Plan C, undo the damage that is done to the heart, mind, or soul by sex before marriage or by abortion. They don’t protect girls from harm, they cause harm by creating a false sense of security when they are anything but safe. Ultimately, the greatest problem with both is that they completely disregard Plan A, as if it never existed.

There is a Plan A for our young people. There cannot be a B and a C, if there were not an A first. So what is Plan A? It is God’s plan–for sex, marriage, family, and for the health and well-being of His children. When God created this world and added people to it, He had a perfect plan in place. In the Bible, in Jeremiah 29:11, it says, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” This scripture may not define the beautiful gift of sexual intimacy that God created for husbands and wives and the boundaries that came with it, but it makes clear the heart of all of God’s plans for His children–to prosper and to give hope for the future. Another scripture in the New Testament describes it like this in John 10:10 when Jesus says, “The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and life abundantly.” Both verses offer a contrast–one side is apart from God, and the other is with Him. Apart from Him is harm, death, and destruction; but with God is hope, future, and abundant life. This is true for all of God’s plans, which include the sexual health of His children.

Plan A is a plan of purity, wholeness, safety, and wellness. Plans B and C pretend to exist for the well-being of young people, but they do not. They promote behavior that leads to harm and then offer solutions that perpetuate a cycle that spirals downward in loss, pain, and regret. Ultimately, Plan B and Plan C are liars–wolves in sheep’s clothing, and the saddest part is that the young people in our culture and our world are buying it hook, line and sinker…and they are paying the price. But all hope is not lost because Plan A still exists, and its message can still be spread. Best of all, the message of Plan A is even still available for those who have succumbed to the lies of B and C. Even that far down the road, they can come back to Plan A.

That is God’s way. He is a God of redemption and hope. He always makes a way to come back to His Plan A.

Our journey to “grandmother’s house” last week was a far cry from the picturesque scene of a horse drawn sleigh through the snowy woods. Although not literally, our trip to visit my husband’s parents was closer to being dragged through a river and lost in woods. All day, it seemed like there were forces working against us to get where we wanted to go and do what we needed to do. Have you ever had one of those days?

Our plans for the day were simple enough–my husband and I were going to see his aging parents to help them out with some chores around the house they were unable to do. We had a couple of errands to run on our way but fully expected to get to our destination quickly and easily so we could get to work. Instead, the 60-mile trip that should have taken maybe an hour and a half with our added stops ended up being close to a three-hour journey, filled with obstacles at every turn. Clearly, someone or something did not want us to get there.

The first hurdle was self-inflicted, albeit unexpected. It was the middle of the week and late morning, so I didn’t anticipate the 15-minute wait at Starbucks for my expensive, hand-crafted coffee. I even thought I could “beat the system” when I saw the very long drive-through line and quickly pivoted to place my order through the app so I could pick it up inside. That would be quicker, right? Apparently not. But by then I was committed, so I had to wait. So finally after waiting much longer than I had hoped, coffee in hand and feeling a bit impatient with the delay, we headed out. There was one more quick stop to make but had no reason to expect any other delays.

Yet just a few minutes down the road, we hit our next roadblock, and it was literally just that–the road was completely blocked. Cruising down the open road, traffic suddenly came to a complete stop because of a police blockade. Traffic was being rerouted to go back the way we had just come–back towards Starbucks. We had no choice though. There was nowhere else to turn. Clearly, something terrible had happened down the road. So we followed the slow line of traffic being directed to make a u-turn to go right back to where we started from. We had left the house more than a half-hour earlier but were still only about 5 minutes away.

Feeling a little frustrated now but trying to keep a positive attitude, we headed out in a different direction to get to the main highway that would finally get us to our destination. We just had one more stop along the way. That next stop was about 20 minutes away, and this time we traveled in that direction without any hindrance. We felt relieved to have the delays and roadblocks behind us. We were ready to get our next errand completed and finally get to mom and dad’s house.

The next detour was a quick stop at the house my brother is having built so we could check on the work that has been done and take some pictures for him and his wife. They live out of state, so this is the only way they can see the progress with their new home. The house was along the way going to my inlaws, so it was easy to incorporate into our plans for the day. We were even looking forward to seeing what had changed since our last visit there, so didn’t mind the additional delay. We even laughed a bit when we turned down the wrong road when we were trying to get to the house from memory. We lost a few more minutes but didn’t mind too much this time. We would only be at the house for short time.

The house looked awesome! Last time we were there, it had only been framed out, but now the drywall was up, so it was really taking shape. My brother and sister-in-law are going to have a lovely home. I couldn’t wait to get a couple of good pictures and some video inside to share with them. So I jumped out of the car and headed towards the house being very careful, as I was very aware that it was a construction site and could be dangerous. In fact, as started my video, walking towards the open garage, the last words I said before the screen went black were, “I am walking slowly and carefully so I don’t fall down.” It was at this moment when I did, in fact, fall down onto the concrete floor of the garage, with my phone crashing to the floor, like my body. My left knee took most of the impact, but my elbow and shoulder got banged up a bit too. I ended up with some scrapes and bruises and feeling pretty sore that day and the next, but overall was okay. But the fall just compounded the delays in our little trip and the feeling that something was trying to keep us from getting there.

Nonetheless, we pressed on. We were still an hour away from mom and dad’s, but we were going to get there. In that next hour, we faced traffic on I-4 (I know, big shock) and had to make an uplanned stop to get gas, so our delay got longer and longer. But FINALLY, more than two hours after leaving our home, we pulled into the large, golf-community where our parents live. It was still about a five-minute drive from the entrance to their house, down a long, winding road, beautifully lined with trees. We could finally take a deep breath and enjoy the slow drive down the pretty path. We were almost there. No more roadblocks, hindrances, or delays.

Then the tree limb crashed to the ground in front of our car. It was literally just one or two feet in front of us. Just a few seconds later, and it would have smashed right onto our car. It could have landed on the car hood or even worse, the windshield, and it came out of nowhere! Well, of course, it came from the tree above, but from our perspective, all we know is that we were nonchalantly driving along and suddenly a huge log slammed to the ground right in front of us! I had to screech to a stop to avoid hitting it or being hit by it. It blocked the entire road, and we could not pass. We were a bit shaken up but had to get out of the car to move the limb and debris from the road. My husband and I, along with the driver from the car behind us, had to work together to get the road clear. It was just crazy and truly convinced us that forces were working against us in our plans for the day.

Ultimately, however, just a few minutes later, we did finally arrive at mom and dad’s house. We did get to help them take care of the tasks in their home. Our mission was accomplished, despite the barriers and delays along the way. In fact, we were able to accomplish even more than we had planned going there. What we didn’t know as we fought to get there was that they had an even greater need that day, and it was divine providence that we were there to help them with that need. Maybe that was why it seemed like everything was working against us getting there? I can’t be sure. But what I do know is that God knew that mom and dad needed us that day and that even though the journey to get there was frustrating, difficult, and even harrowing, He was bringing us there to honor and serve our parents with love. And I am so glad He did.

Sometimes the journeys of life are more challenging than we expect. Sometimes what we think should be a straight shot from point A to point B becomes a circuitous path over the river and through the woods, and sometimes the river and the woods are pretty scary. But difficultly in the journey does not mean that we are on the wrong path. Sometimes we can be right in the middle of God’s will, fulfilling His purpose and plan, even if it was hard to get there. The road doesn’t always have to be smooth and free from trouble for us to be in God’s will. So when you are having one of “those days,” weeks, months, or years, don’t give up. Press on. After the challenges you face, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going. You never know what is on the other side of your journey and what God has in store until you get there. I know you can do it. 🙂

Recently, I shared a blog titled, “The Overactive “But” Muscle,” addressing the proverbial battle in the mind where your thoughts deny all things good and true to drag you down to a dark place mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In that scenario, “but” is the enemy. It is the “but” that counters the good to convince you of the bad. The struggle is real–for me, and I am guessing, for many.

After writing and thinking about that struggle with the “but” muscle, however, I realized that there was a different perspective from which to approach it. I realized that I could turn the “but” around and actually make it work for me, instead of against me. And I got pretty excited about it. My “but” doesn’t have to be my enemy, it can be my ally! When my mind tries to feed me discouragement and deny God’s truth, I can turn it around and go on the offensive with my “but.”

Let’s say I have one of those days where nothing is going right. I am feeling discouraged and frustrated. I want to cut myself some slack, but my mind won’t let me. I try to remind myself that one bad day does not define me until my thoughts throw out, “BUT this is hardly just one bad day for you. You have a lot of bad days. Remember when…” Now either I keep listening, believe the lies, and sink down into depression, OR I can employ the “but” against itself! This is where when I hear those awful lies, I come back with my own “but” to put it in its place. I respond, “You may be trying to convince me that I am not good enough, BUT God’s Word says differently! The Bible says that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and that God is for me and not against me…and any other truths from the Word about my identity in Christ. We don’t have to receive the lie, we can counter it with the truth.

Not only does the Bible provide the truth with which we can fight this battle of the “buts,” it also demonstrates this principle through the life of the only One who sets a perfect example for us. In a familiar passage found in Matthew, chapter 4, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit to the desert, where He will be tempted by Satan. In each of the three temptations Jesus faces, Satan is the “voice” that He is hearing in his head. Satan is the one trying to manipulate Jesus’ thoughts to lead Him away from Who He is and what He is called to do. The key for us is how Jesus responds to Satan’s lies.

Even though the word “but” does not appear directly in this passage, it can be heard in it. When the enemy tells Jesus to feed His physical hunger by turning the stones to bread, Jesus’ response can be understood to say, “I may be hungry, and I even may have the power to turn these stones to bread, BUT the Bible says that man does not live by bread alone. My bread is every word that comes from God.” And in saying this, He puts the devil in his place and rejects the lie. Jesus makes His “but” work for Him, and He does it with every temptation thrown His way.

Each time, Jesus’ response is consistent–he answers with “it is written.” He answers the manipulation and lies with the truth of God’s Word. So when the enemy tries to take Him down with tempting whispers in His mind, Jesus overcomes with the “but,” followed directly by truth from the Word. This is the example we need to follow in order to make our “but” work for us. We need to answer the lies offered to our minds with a “but + scripture” statement that puts those lies in their place. Like Jesus, this is how we will overcome.

Of course, to utilize this strategy, we need to know the Word. So that means we need to be in the Word regularly and abiding in the Spirit. This is how God’s Word is in our hearts and on our minds and lips, and this is how we make our “but” work for us!

Hello, my name is Rebecca, and I have an overactive “but” muscle. Can you relate? Now, I am not talking about the strength of my gluteus maximus, or yours–I promise you that is not something about which I can boast. It was not a spelling error. 😉 No, the “muscle” I am talking about is the constant battle of the “but” in my mind.

I don’t know about you, but my thoughts are often working against me. They are rarely on my side. Despite my greatest efforts, my brain finds a way to think the very worst of me, of situations I face, and even of those around me. When left to its own devices, my mind would dwell in a dark place of fear and negativity.

Thankfully, however, God provides people around me to counter the bully in my own mind. I am grateful for the friends, family members, and other voices around me who speak truth into my life. I need to hear it–sometimes again and again–to be reminded that my thoughts cannot be trusted. However, this is exactly where the overactive “but” muscle kicks into gear. Maybe you know exactly what I am talking about.

Imagine this scenario…I am having one of “those” days. There are countless circumstances that can bring it on–a conflict in a relationship, a difficult challenge at the office, a conversation that didn’t go well, or an outfit that didn’t fit right–or sometimes it seems like all of the above at one time. In those moments, instead of encouraging me and pushing me to a better place, my mind sends me down the dark and lonely trail of self-abuse, trying to convince me that everything that seems wrong is my fault, it will never get better, and ultimately clearly illustrates what a failure I am. I know…it’s not pretty, but it happens.

That’s when God, in His love and mercy, will start sending me messages to oppose the lies swimming around in my mind. It could be a song, a message on the radio, a word from a friend, or a scripture that comes to mind; no matter what form it comes in, God reminds me that I am not a failure…I am enough…and that everything will be okay. He is so faithful. However, that is where the “buts” begin.

I know the truth. I know what I am thinking is a lie, and what I am hearing is true. In my heart, I know this, but it is my mind that betrays me. When truth is spoken to me in those moments, my heart resonates with what it hears, ready to receive and apply it. My mind, however, steps in quickly to say, “Whoa, whoa–wait a minute here. That might be true for some people, BUT not for you, especially this time. Did you see what you said, did, wore?? Some of that stuff may have been true for you before, BUT you definitely messed it up this time, and that shows the real you. The rest of the time, you are totally a pretender.” My mind is brutal. Even when the voice of truth keeps fighting for its place in my mind, the “buts” continue to come.

So what can I do with this overactive “but” muscle? What can you do if you can completely relate to my struggle? Thanks be to God, we are not left alone in this crazy battle. The “but” muscle can be overcome! But it is going to take some exercise. If we want to strengthen any part of our physical bodies (including the gluteus maximus), we need to exercise it. The same is true for our minds. What we exercise is what will become strong and dominate our thinking.

So if I continue to allow my “but” muscle to win, it will continue to be in charge. It will remain the most-exercised muscle in my brain and therefore be the strongest. To change this, I need to exercise the muscle that leads my mind to truth, and most importantly, I need to exercise it when I am not fighting the battle. This is critical. Imagine if I wanted to build up physical strength to prepare for a competition. However, in the time of preparation, I didn’t actually do the physical activity that was needed. I thought about exercising, I thought about doing the competition, but I never actually put it into practice before the needed time. How would I do in that competition? I don’t think I would do very well at all because my body was not prepared.

The same is true for my mind. If I want to be prepared for one of “those” days, I need to exercise truth in my mind beforehand. I need to actively and intentionally fill my mind with truth. This can come in so many different forms, and the more you and I put into practice, the stronger our truth muscle will be. It can be a list of affirmations you speak to yourself every day. It can be asking a group of close and safe friends to speak truth to you on a regular basis. And it can be the daily habit of seeing, speaking and thinking on God’s Word. I have key scriptures written on pretty index cards and hung up in a central place in my home where I can see them and read them aloud every day. In Philippians 4:8, the Bible tells us exactly what we should be thinking about–“whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We need to remind ourselves this and exercise it every day.

The Bible also tells us what we are to do when those untrue thoughts come our way. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we are told that “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” We destroy and take captive. Those are vocabulary words of war, and we must approach it that way. We must be as relentless as the “but” muscle–relentless in practicing and exercising truth in our minds. And when we do, we will overcome.

So if you, like me, have an overactive “but” muscle, we can be in this together! We can make a commitment to a proactive advance against the lies, exercising the truth. You can remind me, and I can encourage you. Leave me a message to fight this battle together! God bless you.

When you Google “extreme faith,” you get 185,000,000 results. Yes, that is 185 MILLION different search results. Wow. To be honest, although I did expect to see a plethora of hits for my search, that really exceeded my expectations! A search for “extreme faith” produces churches, production companies, bibles, youth programs, camps and retreats, book titles, and more. It’s an energy charged phrase that is used to push believers–young and old, from various denominations–to a stronger and greater faith in God. It’s not a bad thing at all.

In fact, having extreme faith in God is a good thing, but today I want to come to it from a different angle. Our faith should not be something we generate from within ourselves and “pump up” to please God. Our faith in God should be a response to Who He is, not who we are. When we see and begin to grasp how awesome God is, then faith in Him will naturally flow. So it is not “extreme faith” we should be seeking; instead, we should be seeking to know His “extreme faithfulness.”

That might sound like an odd phrase to describe this attribute of God, but there is really no other way to see it. In fact, everything about God is extreme. He loves in an extreme way. He forgives in an extreme way. He provides in an extreme way. He IS extreme in Who He is because He is God, and so it follows that His faithfulness is extreme as well…and it is!

GOD IS FAITHFUL. Period. Take a moment to really think and meditate on that statement. Don’t just pass it by with a “yeah, yeah, I know” response–really digest it and think about what it means. Even if you have heard it, read it, sung it and said it a thousand times in your lifetime, receive it in new today. Meditate on each word, one at a time. God…is…faithful. Each word holds incredible truth on its own, and then together they communicate an immutable truth that is a foundation of our faith.

To be faithful means to be loyal, steadfast, and true. One who is faithful keeps their promises; they are reliable and can be trusted and believed. A faithful person is firm and sure. All of these descriptions define the character of God. His faithfulness is both proclaimed and demonstrated throughout His Word. Deuteronomy 7:9 declares God’s faithfulness–“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…” Psalm 36:5 describes His faithfulness as “reaching to the skies.” Lamentations 3:22 tells us of the greatness of God’s faithfulness.

The same truths are echoed in the New Testament as well. In I Corinthians 1:9, we are told, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Over and over, it is proclaimed in the Word. I love 2 Timothy 2:13 because I am reminded that even when I am not faithful, He is…because “he cannot deny himself.” What an incredible promise and truth. I am thankful for the promise because I know I am not faithful. I want to be, oh how I want to be, but I fail. But He does not. And I love the truth that seals it because it makes it so clear that faithfulness is not just what God does, it is Who He is! When it says that “he cannot deny himself,” it is saying that He can’t not be faithful. That is extreme faithfulness–He will ALWAYS be faithful, praise God!

We are not only told of God’s faithfulness in the Bible, but we are shown it throughout the Word too. Every story from Genesis to Revelation is a story that shows God remaining true to Who He is and what He has said. If He said it will happen, it does. If He said He would do it, He did. Floods came, cities burned, seas parted, walls fell, kings rose, kingdoms fell, and most importantly, a King was born, died, and rose again…and that King will return, just like God said He would. Because He is faithful!

It is this truth that has carried me through this life and continues to carry me every day. My whole life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. He has never failed me and never will. That, my friend, is EXTREME faithfulness, and it is because of His faithfulness that I have EXTREME faith in Him. I hope you will too!

I have a heart condition…and so do you. The question is–what is the condition of your heart, and mine? What is going on in our hearts is often revealed by what we see happening on the outside. It seems to be a part of God’s design in much of creation that inner health is reflected through outer appearance and experience. We can see that a tree has disease on the inside when instead of beauty and new growth on the outside, it begins drying, rotting and breaking. We know something is wrong in its inner core–its “heart.” And when there is something wrong in the heart, the outside is always affected. The same is true for you and me.

Of course, this principle does not apply only in the physical realm. It is a mental, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual principle as well. It is an amazing truth that God created much greater depth to every human being beyond our physical bodies. Yes, He has put a physical, human heart in the center of our bodies that pumps life-giving blood to every organ. And yes, if that heart has a condition of damage, sickness or weakness, the whole body is affected and at risk. A healthy heart is vital to a healthy life.

But the same is true spiritually. God has created each one of us with a spiritual heart within. It is not something we can see, feel (physically), or touch, but it is there, and it is vital to our health. Our hearts are the keepers of all feelings, emotions, relationships and experiences. Everything generates from the heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (NIV) This simple statement has very strong qualifiers in it.

First it tells us that “above all else” we must guard our hearts. That is strong language. It is saying that more than anything else we need to watch, take care of, and protect our hearts. More than anything. This makes clear the critical importance of the heart in our daily spiritual life and in our eternal future. Then it also says, that “everything” we do flows from the heart–everything. Everything includes, well, everything! It means nothing is left out. There is nothing we do in this life that does not flow from the heart. That makes our heart the center of our very lives.

This brings me back to where I started…if the heart is the center of our lives, then what is the condition of our hearts? It is there, within you, whether you acknowledge it or not. So how healthy is your spiritual heart? Have you been guarding it well? Have you been protecting it from input that will cause damage, weakness or disease? And most of all, what and who resides in your heart–who sits on the “throne” of your heart and your life? That is the most critical question to answer.

You see, the bottom line is that all of us either have a regenerated heart or an unregenerate heart, and it is Jesus alone who can renew a heart. So either we have invited Him in to rule and change our hearts, or we continue to hold tightly to the illusion of control in this life. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus never pushes His way in. He calls, He knocks, and He waits–giving each one of us the freedom to choose what we will do with our hearts. Our decision determines the condition of our heart and our position for eternity. It is a crucial decision to make. I hope you have considered the weight of it and have chosen to give your heart to Christ.

Yet, even for those whose hearts have been given to Christ, we still must guard the condition of our hearts. We must watch what we allow in to our hearts because what goes in will determine what comes out of our mouths and our lives. Matthew 15:18 tells us, “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” As a Christian, I want good things to come out from me, so I am honoring God and reflecting His glory. If that is what I want to come out, I have to make sure good, godly things go in to my heart. And so do you.

So, I do have a heart condition, and because of Jesus alone, it is a good. What about your heart?

Additional Bible Verses about the Heart:

“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Proverbs 27:19

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26