Devotional
How to Escape Addiction to Anxiety
Isn’t it strange how addictive anxiety can be? It’s almost as if we sense that by devoting energy to anxiety we are somehow doing something about whatever we are worried about. But if you’ve struggled with anxiety at all, you know that on its own, anxiety only offers false solutions, false promises, and false predictions.
How to Be Angry Like Jesus
There are good ways and bad ways to deal with anger, and hindsight too often seems to be the key to knowing the difference. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t look back and wish they could take something back they said or did in anger. The best way to know the difference good and bad anger is to follow the example of Christ.
What Envy Does to Us
Envy surrounds us—and most of us don’t realize the deadly poison it is. We think of envy as a kind of petty jealousy that just comes from wanting a little more. But the Bible treats it as far more serious. It starts with discontentment with what we have and turns quickly into resentment toward others who have the thing that we want.
God Does His Best Work in Our Suffering
When you experience a season of suffering, it’s important to learn any lessons God is trying to teach you in the midst of your pain. The reason you have found yourself in a season of suffering may vary. But one thing is always true: If you are hurting, that is an opportunity to lean into God. It is an opportunity to learn something from God you might never know otherwise.
You Can Resign as Judge of the Universe
It’s no wonder it’s so difficult for people to let go of their anger and forgive when the Bible talks about anger as a series of what seems like impossible commands. To someone who is really angry or really hurt, obeying those commands seems not only difficult, but impossible. I mean, how do you just turn off an emotion?
What Are You Worth?
I’ve always heard it said that the value you place on something is shown by what you are willing to give up for it. If something is really worth a lot to you, you’re willing to give up a lot to get it. God demonstrated the price he was willing to pay to redeem you by giving himself. There could be no higher price. What does that say about the value we have now?
About J.D. Greear
J.D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC and author of several books including Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send.