FROM THE KEYBOARD

"Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (2 Timothy 1:2). Grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Mercy keeps us from what we do deserve. And peace guards us wherever we serve. So let these aspects of salvation be the fuel to our faith, the eraser of our mistakes, and the anchor to our days.

Faith that isn’t fed will eventually fade; put another way, faith that isn’t active will atrophy. But take heart—faith, when stirred up, also has muscle memory. "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6).

God’s Word isn’t just for reading; it’s for living. It’s alive, powerful, and sharper than any sword (Hebrews 4:12). Even Jesus used Scripture to silence Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:4). Thus, don’t just carry the Bible, let the Bible carry you. Study it. Speak it. Stand on it. And watch it transform your heart and your battles. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).

If we cast out the spirit of Jezebel but fail to call on the Spirit of Jesus, then reform can potentially lead to deform. You see, Jesus warns that when an unclean spirit is cast out, but the "house" remains empty, seven worse spirits return, making the last state worse than the first (Matthew 12:43-45). Therefore, true and lasting change requires repentance--where the "house" isn't just cleaned up but also filled up--with Christ at the center, filling us with His Spirit and renewing our minds.

Faith shields us, but truth strengthens us. As soldiers of Christ, we’re not just called to defend but to engage. You see, the shield of faith defends us, but the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—is how we go on the offensive. And now is not the time to shrink back but to strike ahead. "Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

The promise of life is greater than the premise of death. In other words, no matter how overwhelming the darkness or how deep the valley of despair, God’s promise of deliverance is surer than death. "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple" (Psalm 18:6).