When we get back to this mission and are willing to lay aside all the things that distract us from what Jesus commands us to do, then we will see an outpouring of God’s Spirit in this nation. Without that, we will scratch and claw and fight, but we will never see the type of revival that Jesus wants to bring.

Those who believe in guardian angels would argue that the Bible supports this concept, drawing from various passages suggesting angels play a protective and guiding role in believers' lives.

When you truly understand what it means for Jesus to be Lord, it will transform the way you see Him, the way you follow Him, and the way you live every single day.

In heaven, there’s so much to look forward to: the joy, the peace, and the presence of God. But if we’re honest, the Bible doesn’t give us a play-by-play of exactly what we’ll be doing in heaven. What it gives us are glimpses of what life in heaven will look like, and from that, we can understand to a degree some things that won’t be part of our heavenly experience.

So, while there are plenty of things to look forward to, let’s take a moment to reflect on the things we won’t have to worry about in heaven. Here are seven things we won’t do when in heaven.  

1. We Won’t Sin

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

One thing we won’t do in heaven is sin, because heaven is a place that is not corrupted by sin. In this life, we have never lived one day without having to deal with sin or our sinful nature. There is an internal battle we all experience between the desires of our flesh and the desires of the Spirit. These two are bitter enemies and will never agree.

But that is the story of this life. In heaven, the capacity to sin that we now experience in this body will be gone forever. You won’t have to worry about fighting your flesh because the impulse to sin, the influence to sin, and the impact of sin will be gone forever. I don’t know what it is like to live without seeing the effects of sin, but one day we will, and the sin that can so easily beset us now will be done away with once and for all.

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As we turn the page and face a brand-new year, which I am certain will have its share of challenges and opportunities, I pray the truth in these two short verses would sink deep into your heart. As you begin this new year, add these two prayers to your list.

Being a Christian is about so much more than what we’re against. It’s about proclaiming what we’re for. When you look at the life of Jesus, he didn’t spend his time solely condemning the wrong. Instead, he focused on the good news he came to bring. Maybe it’s time we take a page from his example.

Abijah wasn’t just one person; there were several biblical figures who bore this name.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Christmas season is the music. From the joyous carols sung in church to the gentle melodies playing softly in homes, the music is everywhere. It is on the radio, in stores, and even playing in the background while you’re sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace. Some stations start the holiday tunes as early as November (which, honestly, feels a bit too soon for me). But if you ask my wife and son, they’ll tell you it’s never too early for Christmas music. My son can listen to it all the way to February.

The Christmas season also comes with distractions. Whether it’s shopping, parties, or your endless to-do lists, it’s easy to lose sight of where the real joy of Christmas comes from. One way to refocus and stir up joy during this time is by focusing on the hymns of Christmas. These classic Christmas songs can fill you with the peace, hope and joy of the season. Their familiar melodies lift your spirits and remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.

In the spirit of the 12 days of Christmas, here are 12 hymns to stir up joy for Christmas. I pray they would help you choose joy and keep your heart anchored to the true reason for the season.

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It’s easy to overlook Joseph’s role in the Christmas story. However, when you look closely, you realize his obedience to God was a critical component of the story. In fact, without his obedience, we can wonder how this story would have played out. Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder about that.

Joseph is asked by God to step into a role that truly is extraordinary, and he does it with courage. He responds to God’s call repeatedly, with a resounding yes. That’s why it’s important to explore some important lessons from Joseph’s obedience. The lessons from his life should inspire you to trust God deeply, listen closely, and walk confidently, especially when you realize God is ordering your every step.

Here are five powerful lessons from Joseph’s obedience in the Christmas story.

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When you serve as a deacon, people look to you as an example, both in how you live and in what you believe. A heart to serve, being filled with the Holy Spirit, a wise mind, and being anchored in the word of God are necessary elements for someone to fulfill the biblical duties of a deacon.

Throughout the Bible, God speaks to his people. He spoke through a burning bush, he spoke with audible voices from heaven, and he even once spoke through a donkey. While it is great to read those stories in the Bible, what we need to know is how does God speaks to us today?

Before we get to how God speaks to us today, there is one thing that we must clear up. You must believe that God still speaks today, because he does. God is a living, active, and speaking God. Our responsibility is to tune into his voice so we can know when he is speaking and the different ways he speaks. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27) which means he is speaking and we must get to know his voice.

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The Bible gives us plenty of insight into the events leading to the return of Christ, but is climate change part of those events?

In every presidential election season, emotions run high. Unfortunately, the biggest emotion is not usually hope, but fear and anxiety because each side is wondering what happens if the other candidate wins.

After the results of any election, the emotions don’t suddenly tamp down, they still run high and probably more so in this divided political climate we now live in. If your candidate won this past election, then you probably feel excitement and optimism. However, if your candidate did not win, then you are probably feeling despair and pessimism. While those feelings are real and valid, as followers of Christ we can’t live in those feelings; our hope goes beyond who is in the White House.

We must also recognize that Washington, D.C. cannot solve the biggest problem in our nation, which is a sin problem. This applies to both democrats and republicans. The sin problem is at the root of every issue we face in our nation, and there is no politician on earth that can fix that, because that is not their job. That responsibility belongs to the followers of Christ.

As we move past the election and now enter the post-election season, our country still needs prayer. I want to share with you some prayers for peace to reign in our nation now that we are past this election.

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