Jesus confronted the very thing I’m most afraid of: being rejected for being your authentic self. In the face of unbelief, Jesus stood firm. He was confident in His person and certain of what was true.

There are certain obstacles that, no matter how hard I try, I will never succeed in overcoming. And guess what? I'm confident that you will not be able to overcome these two obstacles either.

Can you minister grace to people who don’t inspire you to acts of kindness? Let me suggest a good beginning. Stoop down and embrace them. Love that reaches up is adoration. Love that reaches out is compassion. But love that stoops is grace.

Let’s consider Andrew Bonar’s example of perseverance, faith, and hopeful prayer. During this time when we need hope in the midst of chaos, remember Bonar’s words, “We can never hope for too much!”

Many think the Spirit’s sole responsibility is to perform miracles, like when Peter commanded the paralyzed man to walk. But these miracles do not occur in the everyday lives of most Christians.

My worship glorifies God when my focus shifts away from me to who He is and what He’s done. By meditating on what hymns teach me about God, I’m led to greater knowledge and appreciation of Him.