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God certainly works in supernatural ways at times, but He also works at making supernatural changes inside of His people so we who have been touched by His grace and generosity will pay it forward to others. You can’t do everything, but you can do something to make a difference … one need at a time, one moment at a time, one person at a time. Therefore, show the world His heart for them by being His hands and feet to them. The church of God, His people, you and me, are His Plan A for blanketing the world with good works and spreading the good news of Jesus everywhere we go. There is no Plan B.

God is our glimmer of hope during seasons of suffering. Though we may feel discouraged in our ongoing troubles, we should know that God is near to strengthen us when we are weak, lift us when we have fallen, and rescue us when we are drowning. That’s why we cry out to Him as the God of our salvation. Praise God, He saves us! He keeps His promises to us, even when we don’t think He has. He hears us when we pray, even when we don’t think He does. He works for our good, even when we don’t think He is. In Jesus, God Himself has entered our suffering to give us hope when it seems like we have none.

There are many things that are true about prayer. One of them is this: prayer involves seeking what we need to do what God wants. We don’t talk to God in order to secure what we need to build our own kingdoms; we talk to God to request what we need to live for His kingdom. Prayer is not a hotline to heaven we use to override His will so He will give us what we think will make us happy; it is a lifeline to heaven we use to ask Him to show us His will and make us happy with what He gives us. If we want to pray for what is best for us, this is the prayer that never fails: Your will be done in my life as it is in heaven.

The world often portrays being blessed as the measure of how good we are or how good we have it. It says we are blessed because of what we do, what we get to do and what we get from our doing. But being blessed in the Kingdom of God is more than that. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all is well on the outside, but that all is well on the inside. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all is well in the everyday matters of life, but that all is well in what matters most. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all is well now, but that all will be well forever. Know this: Real blessing comes in things that can never be taken from us.

God’s love for you does not rise with every new entry on your resume’ and does not fall with every new entry on your rap sheet. God’s love is not based on your performance as if He only cares about you when you get it right. You are loved; not because you are perfect, but because you are His. You are valued; not because of what you have made of your life, but because you were made by Him. You are treasured; not because you cross off items on a checklist, but because Jesus died on a cross for you. God will continue to shape you into the person He made you to be. But He deeply loves the person you are today.

God designed everything and made everything out of nothing. When you consider the amazing diversity and creativity and majesty displayed in every corner of the created world that we can see, hear, smell, taste and feel, God’s handiwork is just absolutely stunning. He created angles and dimensions, shapes and textures, colors and flavors, scents and elements, and, well, everything known and unknown to us. And Our God made us and is now remaking us into the likeness of Jesus. This is Who our hope is in. This is Who our praise is for. This is Who helps us and keeps us forever. Rejoice! Our God is an awesome God.

God sees what we cannot. While delays, detours and dead-ends can bring about disappointment and frustration, they may be God’s way of blocking us from something He doesn’t mean for us to do or have because it is not good for us or others in the end. Let us rejoice when this happens, for when God says “No” to our plans, He is saying “Yes” to something He has planned that is far better. Costly mistakes are avoided, and wonderful blessings are gained when He steps in to order our steps. Remember: when God graciously reroutes the lives of those who are trusting in Jesus, it is always to put us on the right path.

Our hope is not in who sits in the Oval Office, but in Who sits on the throne in heaven. Our hope is not in who governs us on earth, but in Who reigns and rules over the entire universe. Our hope is not in what laws are passed, but in the One Who has written His law of love on our hearts. While politics, parties, programs and policies do have an impact upon our lives and our country, and we should take these things seriously, the optimism we have for everyday and eternal well-being does not rise and fall on one of us, but on Jesus, Who is God with us. This is where we pin our hope: Jesus governs our lives.

Rather than spending our lives laboring for things we cannot keep, we should use our wisdom, talents, opportunities, resources and energy in pursuit of things we cannot lose. While acquiring wealth through righteous means can be a blessing, it is never a blessing to toil for wealth at the expense of true riches in Christ and His kingdom. We seek to know, enjoy, proclaim, serve and glorify Him first. Then, the financial blessings God entrusts to us should be stewarded to do the most good for the most people. When our time and money are used in this way, we will find satisfaction in Him that we can never get from wealth.

We will fight many battles in life. We will fight for the things that God means for us to have and do, and we will fight against the things that would rob us of the abundant life that is ours in Christ. Physical well-being. Spiritual warfare. Family protection. Kingdom fruit. Our happiness. God’s honor. We are to get ready for battle, go to battle and depend on God in battle. It is not our strength, our plan, our wisdom, our abilities, our possessions or our community that we are to trust in, but rather our God. He provides the resources we use and the results from their use. For both the means and the victory come from Him.