One of the most profound insights on this comes from St. Augustine, the influential bishop and theologian from North Africa in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He wrote, "Understanding is the reward of faith." (In fuller context: "For understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that you may understand.")

Heavenly Father, You understand my heart more deeply than I ever could. Examine me today, test me, and eliminate anything that obstructs my dedication to You. Renew my heart, making it pure and steadfast, and fill it with love for You. Empower me to live with a heart fully committed to Your purposes.

Our true passport is heavenly, not earthly. We live here as ambassadors, but our allegiance and eager expectation are fixed on our return to the Father through Christ.

As you pray today using this pattern—praise first, then gratitude, confession, and intercession—may your heart draw nearer to God.

He lives it: minimizing distractions (deleting apps except LinkedIn), visualizing plays in advance, praying before games for calm focus instead of blasting hype music, and framing pressure as fuel for action rather than something to fear. His journey—from under-recruited 2-star prospect to transfer success at Indiana, overcoming family challenges—reinforced this: accept hardship, focus on virtue (effort, humility), and appreciate the path without ego attachment. It's wise bey

As a coach, I’ve said “hard work” a million times – because easy work doesn’t move the needle. When we pour ourselves out and get exhausted for the right reasons, God promises profit – spiritually, financially, relationally.

Yet Peter does not let us rest in possession alone. He urges us to: “make every effort” to build on the foundation of faith by adding these seven qualities in progression. Each one flows from and strengthens the previous, producing a life that is increasingly fruitful, stable, and reflective of Christ.

It’s hard to wrap our minds around this kind of “super-victory.” Yet as we anticipate trials in this life, remember: the reward for faithful endurance far surpasses any earthly trophy.

Don't stay stuck in spiritual "Kindergarten"! Advance by training in Christ's ways—disciplined habits, Scripture immersion, prayerful dependence—and you'll win. It's the beautiful synergy: We TRAIN with intensity so we can TRUST the One who gives the victory with our life, allowing us to live in utmost confidence and composure.

Today, embrace your responsibility to pray. Approach with confidence, persist without giving up, and speak with sincere simplicity. Your Father hears, He cares, and He will respond in ways that draw you closer to His heart and His plan for you.

That's why God is jealous: He longs for our exclusive allegiance because He alone is worthy, and He knows nothing else can truly satisfy or save us.

We are justified by faith alone—but not by a faith that is alone.

We redefine who we are—not by the old stains and rips, but by discarding those depraved habits and putting on the righteousness, peace, and joy He's prepared for us. It's like finally conquering the laundry mountain and breathing in that fresh, clean-laundry smell!

Imagine you're on an escalator rising UPWARD—that's your life in Christ, steadily ascending toward glory, no stopping it! But in your hand? You're spinning a yo-yo—up, down, up, down—like the wild ebbs and flows of everyday life. Your bills hit hard (down!), you receive an unexpected blessing (up!), tough day at work (down!), breakthrough in sales or in a game you played (up!)... Don't fixate on the yo-yo frenzy! Keep your focus on the ESCALATOR—it's carrying you HIGHER no

You're not just tolerated – you're adopted, loved, and heir to the Kingdom. Walk like the beloved child you are!

Too often we underestimate what God has made us capable of. We settle for self-powered effort when supernatural, lasting results are available through simple dependence on the Vine. As children of God—chosen, adopted, and appointed—we are designed for so much more.

What does it mean to be justified by faith? Your identity isn't in your performance, past failures, or status. It's in Christ – justified, adopted, alive in Him.