It’s useless if you can’t use it.
Take a verse that you know; and, ask yourself, “Do I know how to use it in my daily choices?”
Knowledge is having that the truth. Understanding is knowing what that truth means. And wisdom is to know how to use that truth in your everyday daily life.
James reveals that our faith will be tested so that our faith will become mature, complete, lacking in nothing. I find it interesting that the Spirit through James doesn’t say that more knowledge of the truth is needed to make this happen. No, He says it takes more wisdom of how to apply the truth. And, if don’t know how, we are told to ask God for more wisdom, not more knowledge.
Wisdom must be based in knowledge of the truth. But knowledge acquisition alone doesn’t bring about a mature faith. It must go through two more steps – understanding (what does that truth mean) and wisdom (how to use that truth in our daily choices).
It is as we choose by faith to apply the truths found in the verses of Scripture that our faith in Jesus will become complete, lacking nothing.
We don’t read the Word of God to simply learn something. We do it to hear Jesus speak to us so we can follow Him through our choices.
As you read the Word of God today, slow down and ask the Spirit to show you what it means and how to apply it in today’s choices. As you do, your faith will deepen and mature. You will become like Jesus.

A new pair of eyes can help solve old problems.
My wife and daughter love to do crossword puzzles. When they break one out, I’m nowhere to be found. I don’t find them entertaining at all.
Yet, I recently put an app on my phone that does the same thing (though without the black boxes). It’s very challenging while being entertaining at the same time. Go figure.
On this app, there is the ability to reorder the letters. This allows you to see the same letters from a new perspective, which often leads to words popping off the screen. Those words were always there. It’s just that I couldn’t see them from the previous orientation.
I believe this to be one of the meanings to the verses that state we’re seated with Christ in heaven at the right hand of the Father. This is not future! This is happening right now.
We live on this planet with a corrupted and broken worldview – the eyes through which we see the world and the basis for our decision making. When we became believers in Jesus, this old thinking didn’t go away. In fact, it fights the Spirit with every choice we make (Gal. 5:17).
This is why we are told to “renew” our minds with the truths found in Scripture. The written Word of God is how to view life from Jesus’ or a heavenly perspective. And while reading, we can ask the Spirit to open our eyes to see the truths found there with a new perspective to solve our challenge.
When you, as a Jesus follower, come to a challenge that keeps repeating itself or a problem that puzzles you, it’s time to reshuffle the letters for a new perspective.
You are seated in the lap of the One who can give the answer – Jesus. He has the victorious perspective to your reoccurring problem. Now, more than ever, is the time to stay in the Word (not avoid it) and ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the solution.
As you do, the answer to your problem will more than likely pop off the page.

“If you only know what Jesus has done for you, you have not a big enough God.”
There is a huge difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. One involves gathering a series of facts/truths about Him in your head – who He is and what He’s done; while the other allows these truths to transform your life into Jesus.
This transformation – becoming like Jesus – is where your sin stained character flaws are removed and replaced with Jesus’ eternal character qualities (gold, silver and precious stones – 1 Cor. 3:12).
When this happens, you will see Him show up in ways you’ve never experienced before. You’ll see His fingerprints all over your life, which should increase your thanks to Him and hunger for more of Him in your life.
Ask the Spirit to empower you to act on the truths He shows you about Jesus so you can see Jesus how He wants you to know Him.
Our God is so much bigger than the facts we think we know about Him.

The Psalmist states that our God searches us, even to the extent that He knows our every thought. You probably know this truth; but, do you know where Jesus comes into play with that truth?
Your God knows what’s hanging out in the nooks and crannies of your head. He knows the good, the bad and the ugly of what you know about and what you’ve both forgotten about or didn’t even “know” was hanging around in there.
The bad and ugly is the sin that offends and harms your relationship with God. And if it were not for what Jesus did on the cross, you couldn’t even be heard by your Father.
Jesus is the burnt offering that takes care of all your willful sins and thoughts. Jesus is also the sin offering that takes care of the sins you don’t even know you’re committing, or sins of ignorance. This offering also covers the offensive stuff in your head that you’ve even forgotten about!
Lastly, Jesus is the peace offering that heals or restores the relationship, so your Father can hear your conversations with Him 24/7.
Jesus did all of this for you, did you know these truths? If so, praise Him today.
If not, this is what is behind the truth that we’re not to think too highly of ourselves. We have stuff that is offending God that we don’t even know about. And it is because of Jesus’ death on the cross that we’re covered so we can stay connected with our Father.
I think it’s time to praise Jesus, don’t you?

“The crowd is most often wrong.”
Pictured is the Desert of Paran. This is where Moses sent out the 12 tour guides. Yes, you read that correctly. The Hebrew word is not a spy, but a tour guide. They were to take a tour of the land; and then, come back and tell the people what they saw.
I recently did this after coming back from Israel. I told some people about the great time I had while in the Land. And guess what? Some of them are planning to come to Israel next year, despite what they heard in the US media.
This did not happen with the 12. Ten came back and told stories that discouraged the people from going into the Land. They left a sour taste in the people’s mouth about who their God was and what He could do.
Yet, two came back and told stories of how the land was already theirs’ because of their God’s promises and power.
You know who the people listened too.
Be careful where you get your information. The majority is not always right! Those who don’t push you towards trusting Jesus, rather than your eyes, are not from the Spirit.
Loving Jesus will never be easy this side of home. What we see and feel will be greatly discouraging at times.
Learn to listen to those who will encourage you to love Jesus even more through trusting Him, especially when life’s hard. This is the Spirit talking. He will always tell you the truth that keeps you free.