I don’t know about you, but whenever I feel wrongfully treated, there is a temptation in me to want to defend and justify myself. In times where someone believes slander or a lie about me, I have a strong desire to prove them wrong and set the record straight. But the question I struggle with is, “Is this the right response God is wanting me to take or is this my flesh and pride getting in the way?”

Well, I am competitive in other places; places where I see how I may control things, or fix the circumstances, or be the “wise”(est) friend. I want to win. I want to be the best. I want to be known, remembered, and respected. However, this desire to keep score allows Satan a foothold into my heart.

Have you ever made a mistake and felt stuck in feelings of guilt and shame? …When I get this way, it can be hard to move forward for me. I struggle with thoughts and feelings of being unworthy and undeserving of God’s love, grace and mercy. So what do I do to overcome these feelings and get unstuck?

One of the hardest things I had to do to follow Jesus was to forgive a family member who had hurt me deeply for over two decades. Before I started getting closer to God, forgiveness for this person felt impossible.

Have you ever denied knowing someone? Can you imagine pretending not to know a family member or close friend? And if you did, can you imagine being forgiven by that same person?

“Come, someone you love needs help” was the message I received from a concerned family member. Days later I arrived to discover their account did not fully convey the filthy living conditions the person we both loved was living in.…How do you help someone correct their present reality when they don’t realize what’s wrong?