Everyone faces pain, fear, and worry; but it seems that Satan especially aims these fiery darts at Christians who are committed to moving forward for God.

This three-in-one volume of John Haggai’s books Winning over Pain, Winning over Fear, and Winning over Worry, was a particular help to me last year.

Full of Scripture and with many personal illustrations, this book shares vital principles for living and serving with the calming, guarding, and sustaining peace of God.

Winning over Pain reminds us of God’s promise to bring good from our pain.

Winning over Fear centers on God’s three-fold antidote for fear found in 2 Timothy 1:7—power, love, and a sound mind.

Winning over Worry, which was the most helpful of the three to me, focuses on the commands in Philippians 4:6–8 to rejoice in the Lord and stay our hearts on Him. (more…)

Thomas Edison observed, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” It seems to me that something similar can be said of faith.

I have observed that some of the most faith-building times in my life have been when I’ve chosen, in obedience to God, to take a step off the cliff of my comfort zone and watch as God works in ways I couldn’t have.

Someone once said, “Faith cannot be developed in comfortable surroundings.” Although I’ve often quoted this in relation to times of testing, it’s true in relation to ministry as well. As long as we maintain the familiar and predictable routines of life and ministry, we only maintain our faith. But when we choose to purposefully serve outside of our comfort zone, our faith is increased.

And the further out we step, the more God increases our faith.

How have you seen God develop your faith by a leap out of your comfort zone?

[Today’s post is a guest post by Dr. Rick Flanders. Dr. Flanders is an evangelist sent out of First Baptist Church of Bridgeport, Michigan. He has been in full time ministry since 1973 and preaches revival meetings around the country.]

One great obstacle to progress in the work of the Gospel, both now and in all times, is the unbelief of God’s servants.

Consider the commission given to Moses, and then to Joshua, that Israel should conquer the land of Canaan. The key to fulfilling this commission was faith. Israel was to believe the promises of God and act on them.

I believe the biblical record of that commission is meant to be instructive to New Testament Christians regarding our commission to evangelize the world. Like to the Israelites of old, the key to fulfilling it is faith. We are to find the promises of Christ inherent in the Great Commission and believe in them as we move forward to take the Gospel to the world.

When Jesus said “all nations” in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47, did He mean those words? (more…)

Our tears are no longer of water; they are of blood; they do not merely obscure our sight, they choke our very hearts.—Waldensians of Italy after what is known today as the Massacre of Piedmont.

In January of 1655, the Duke of Savoy forced a cruel choice upon the Waldensians of the lower valleys in Italy—either attend Catholic Mass, or move out of the valley within three days. In the dead of winter, some two thousand people journeyed across swollen rivers, snow-buried valleys, and ice-covered mountains with traces of blood marking their trail.

Waldensians in the upper valleys welcomed the refugees and shared their meager provisions freely. But the worst was yet to come. (more…)

[This is a guest post by Pastor Kurt Skelly. Pastor Skelly has been the senior pastor of Harvest Baptist Church since 1996. By God’s enablement, Harvest Baptist Church has seen remarkable growth. Brother Skelly is an engaging Bible preacher and recently preached for our Youth Conference and at Spiritual Leadership Conference. You can follow him on Twitter.]

One of my favorite songs in the hymnal is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Without reservation, we readily admit that Jesus is a friend to us! But have you ever seriously considered what it means to be a friend to Him?

You might be surprised to know that the Bible provides examples and specific principles to help us understand exactly how to be a friend of God.

1. A friend of God is one who values His presence above all else.

Moses had spent the last forty days alone with God. While there he had received both the law and the rules of worship from God. Imagine his dismay when, upon his return to the camp, he found the people engaged in idolatrous worship and licentious behavior! In fact, were it not for the intercession of Moses, God would have destroyed His people right there in the wilderness.

As it turned out, the Lord refused to lead them any further by His presence. From now on He would merely use an angel to direct their journey.

But Moses refused to accept such a proposition. If the Lord did not travel with them, Moses was staying put! (See Exodus 33:15.) In fact, the conversation Moses shared with the Lord revealed Moses’ supreme desire to know God intimately. (more…)