The Quiet Power of Humility
As people grow older, they often begin to "soften" in more ways than one. Perhaps most importantly, many develop softer hearts. The passing decades have a way of humbling us. We become more aware of our limitations, less certain of ourselves, and more appreciative of others.
Our culture often views this softening with suspicion. Is it genuine humility, or is it simply a loss of drive, conviction, or backbone? And even when humility is recognized, it is rarely celebrated. The public square tends to reward confidence, self-promotion, and independence far more than meekness and humility.
God's economy, however, is very different.
Both James, the brother of Jesus, and Peter, one of His closest followers, wrote:
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
That's a sobering statement. God opposes pride because pride ultimately opposes Him.
Scripture tells us that the proud do not seek God and make no room for Him in their thoughts (Psalm 10:4). If fa...
Is Your Love Drifting… or Deepening?
Jesus said that in the last days, the love of most people would grow cold. That’s a sobering thought. So it’s worth asking: What about my love? Is it cooling off… or is it alive with the presence and purposes of God?
Real love isn’t vague or passive. It’s focused and intentional. It’s directed toward people—not just ideas. And it shows up in action. Love isn’t just something we feel; it’s something we express. When it’s real, people experience it. Others can see it. Real love is visible.
At its source, love comes from God Himself. As Scripture says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love isn’t just something He does—it’s who He is. Creation itself flows out of His love, and as we receive and express that love, we begin to reflect His image in the world.
So what does that kind of love actually look like in everyday life?
Let’s look at three simple—but deeply countercultural—expressions of real love. These aren’t just nice ideas; they’re powerful, even prophetic, in a world where love ofte...
Redeemed for More: God’s Call on Your Day
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Some mornings feel like they start on their own. Life rushes forward, and we scramble to jump on the moving escalator without tripping. But before we get swept along, it’s worth pausing to remember: the world we live in is broken. Since the very first sin, everything has borne its marks—alienation, sickness, death. The decay is everywhere.
Yet God, in His mercy, stepped in. Jesus gave His life as a ransom (Mark 10:45), redeeming us from spiritual slavery and rescuing us from that downward path. So don’t just wake up and sprint into the day. Stop. Receive your redemption with gratitude. Lift your eyes to your eternal hope in Christ, and give thanks.
Redemption, however, is only the beginning. You have also been reconciled. The barrier of sin that once separated you from God has been torn down. No longer do you walk alone—God is with you, and in you. Spiritually united with Him, like a covenant marriage, you’ve died to the exhausting burden of independent living. Your new life is li...
How To Be Lifted
As people get older, they are prone to “soften” in more ways than one. Most importantly, people’s hearts tend to get softer – and they become humbler as the decades start ticking away. Much of our culture looks at this softening process with suspicion, wondering if it’s the fruit of humility or lack of backbone and/or drive. Even if it is humility, the public square often doesn’t honor the character of humility. Yet, God’s economy is quite different.
Both James (the brother of Jesus) and Peter (one of His closest followers) wrote, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) God opposes those who exhibit pride – because they are opposing Him. When people act in a prideful way, they are not seeking God – and Scripture declares they are also not making room for Him in their thoughts. (Psalm 10:4) If not seeking God, and not including Him in our thoughts are marks of pride –– many of us are often practically living in a prideful way.
Why is pride suc...
