“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Have you heard the cliché; “God won’t give you more than you can handle?” This statement is a fallacy and is not biblically accurate. Just as the Lord sustained Paul, he will provide the same for us as we depend on and seek him in our weaknesses.

Conformity permits external forces like culture or the opinions of others to shape and mold us.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

How will you stand up for godliness against the pressures of this world?

Forgiveness is not a suggestion; it is a command therefore, refusing to do so is an act of disobedience.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”(Matthew 6:14-15).

If God has forgiven us, how can we refuse to forgive others?

Are you internally or externally focused?

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

We live in a culture that emphasizes and promotes outward appearance. How are you focused?

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).

Negative speech pierces us like a sword. Research has concluded that it takes five positive words to overcome one negative word. Words cut deep, the hurt is immediate and their potential to condemn is great. Are you being mindful of the words coming from your lips?

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

This verse from John’s gospel is one of the most recognizable, and memorized verses of the Christian faith. It reveals the gospel message and the depth of God's love for us. God's very nature is love. He proved his unconditional love by sending his Son as the only way to reconcile us back to him.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).

God will allow difficult life events to strengthen us, in order to produce extraordinary outcomes. God is always orchestrating the details in the background. Although we don’t always understand his plan at the moment, it’s imperative that we trust him through the process.

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone comes after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:34-35).

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:12-14).

In Exodus 3:9-12 Moses wrote of his commission from God, “And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

When you seek the Lord in prayer are you confident that he hears you?

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him (1 John 5:14-15).

2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Praise be to the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

What benefits or advantages have you gained through God’s discipline in your life?

Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

What impact has the word of God had in your life?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” What impact has the word of God had in your life?

How will you share God’s greatest gift with others this Christmas?

Galatians 4:4-5: But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

No other gift can compare to the most treasured gift ever – Jesus, our Redeemer.

Lamentations 3:24-26: “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1 Peter 5:8- 9: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”