A Moment of Hope

by Marilynn Chadwic Who can find a woman of valor? (Proverbs 31:10 OJB) The dictionary defines valor as "courage and bravery in the face of danger." But the Hebrew word for valor, as I have been sharing with you, is chayil. Chayil is a much more vibrant definition, depicting "a warrior, army, strength, honor, even wealth." Chayil is actually a military term. So I was surprised to discover that the famed Proverbs 31 woman is called eishet chayil, or "woman of valor." Woman of valor. What a beautiful description. All over the world, on Friday evening before Shabbat, the Jewish husband will recite or sing "Woman of Valor" as a way to honor his wife—to reflect upon all she has done for him, his family, and for the community (Proverbs 31:10-31). But again, why a military term? Let's remember that the life of the Proverbs 31 woman would not have been easy. She likely faced marauding thieves, extreme heat and cold, and a myriad of pestilences. She needed to be strong, brave, and always prepared, because in one way or another, she was always at war. On a spiritual level, it makes sense that every woman, every home, every community–in every part of the world–is also at war. The Bible warns all believers to be alert, watchful, armed, and ready for battle against the enemy of our souls (1 Peter 5:8-9). It makes me wonder why we lost sight of the woman of valor in the first place. From the beginning of time, the devil has been intent upon robbing the woman of her true purpose and worth. God created her part nurturer and part warrior. Let's face it. If you defeat the woman, you can attack marriages, families, and communities. My friend Barbara, who ministered for many years in the inner-city, once said it this way, "If you take down the mamas, you will take down the babies." It's time to reclaim the woman of valor. Our world needs women who are full of strength and gentleness. Both tough and tender. Adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. To download a copy of Woman of Valor please visit: momentsofhopechurch.org/books

by Marilynn Chadwick Sometimes God provides a deep spiritual lesson when we least expect. While reading through Matthew's Gospel one day, I was struck by Jesus's words to His disciples: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3 NIV). The word used in this verse for change means "to repent." That's a strong word. What keeps me from becoming like a little child? In what ways do I need to repent? Then, it suddenly became clear. I need courage to become childlike. The next verse gave even more motivation. Whoever becomes simple...like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom (Matthew 18:4 MSG). If we truly want to experience the kingdom of God like children, we must have the courage to make some changes. We must dare to become simple. Becoming simple means lightening our load, which in turn, helps us navigate the daily stresses and trials that come our way. Becoming simple also helps us see more clearly when we face challenges. I've come to believe that in some way, becoming simple makes us brave. I can think of a lot of words to describe my life, but simple isn't one of them. We live in a busy and noisy world with to do lists and deadlines. Simple? Who can afford to be simple? I decided to do a little "research" about children on my own. I was sharing a cup of tea one afternoon with my then four-year-old granddaughter, who was feeling quite grown up as she carefully balanced the delicate cup and saucer on her lap. "Guess what Jesus tells grownups," I said to her. "We have to be like little kids if we want to know him better. Why do you suppose Jesus likes kids so much?" She just looked at me for a minute as if to say, "You should know that answer." And then she said matter-of-factly, "Because we are so fun to play with." It was that simple. To a child, Jesus is not only God of the Universe, He is also their friend. He actually likes children. My granddaughter's natural assumption? Jesus likes her. Not because she's wise, rich, talented, or in control. He likes her just because she is who she is. And probably because she's fun to play with. In this complex world, I must repent and let go of control if I want to become simple. If I want to run my race with courage. Yes, it's simple to believe in Jesus and to trust him like a child. Simple, but certainly not easy. It takes courage to believe like a little child. Humility to admit my need for God's strength. I have to wrestle to the ground all the doubts and fears that attack my mind. All the clutter that robs me of clarity. If I want to clearly see Jesus, I have to get back to simply believing in him. Like a child.

by Marilynn Chadwick She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31:25 NIV). Our daughter Bethany struggled with fear from a very young age. It would try to envelop her and hold a tight grip on her. This struggle with fear bothered her young, tender heart. We would read Psalm 91 over her again and again. She would memorize it with us, wielding her sword against the enemy's wiles. But David had a way of penetrating this battle with fear that eventually left her changed. Forever. In fact, it changed me too. One of the things I love most about my husband David is the way he would always encourage our children to laugh at the very things they were afraid of. He referred to their fears as "fret flies." With Bethany, particularly, he would sing this silly song about fret flies with her and get her laughing. As the laughter bubbled up, the fear subsided. One time, when Bethany was very young, David challenged her to conquer her fear of riding ferris wheels. The anticipation of the joy and thrill of riding a ferris wheel finally helped her muster the courage to step out and take a risk. With Daddy cheering her on, she was overjoyed to finally defeat another "fret fly!" I'm glad David is not a worrier. But that doesn't mean he's unaware of danger. He just doesn't overthink imaginary scenarios. What's more, he doesn't spend needless energy looking back at the "if onlys" or ahead to the "what ifs" of life. Like any pastor, he's had to deal with all kinds of tragedies and emergencies throughout our years of ministry. But I've seen firsthand how his faith has strengthened him. I've often told him that the greatest gift he has to give others is his faith. And sometimes his laughter! David is right. It is incredibly liberating to laugh in the face of fear. Laughter is a healthy way to lighten up. I wonder if the secret is to have such strong faith in the Lord that we can laugh at our fears. We may discover greater joy and courage than we ever thought possible when we conquer our fret flies!

David and Marilynn Chadwick join Jenn Houston in a discussion about today's blog.

by Marilynn Chadwick I agree with Indiana Jones: "I hate snakes!" Maybe some of you share my distaste for these slithery reptiles. A while back, when cleaning our garage, our son found a small copperhead hiding behind a box. My first response was, "Yikes! Go hide!" My next thought was, "Go get 'em!" I grabbed the nearest gardening tool and went after that snake with a warrior-like vengeance, sending him into the grave! Why? Because he was in my garage…near my kitchen door…a threat to my home and family! Though I'm scared of snakes, my love for my family made me brave. Maybe you can relate. Is there a time when you did something that scared you in order to protect someone you loved? If so, you were showing courage, or what the Bible often refers to as valor. I'm captivated by the Hebrew word for valor, chayil. In the Orthodox Jewish Bible translation, chayil is used to describe the famed Proverbs 31 woman. "Who can find a woman of valor?" (Proverbs 31:10). Clearly, she was part nurturer and part warrior. Chayil is used to describe David's mighty men of valor. It is also used to describe a reluctant hero named Gideon. Simply put, "valor," or chayil, is personal bravery in the face of danger—especially courage in battle. In its nearly 100 uses in the Old Testament, chayil most often depicts warriors. I believe we need to become courageous men and women of valor as we face today's battles: addiction, divorce, poverty, injustice, domestic violence, child abuse, abortion, poverty, unemployment, pornography, human trafficking, joblessness, homelessness, racism, persecution, terrorism. I'm sure you could add to this list. As I listen to conversations with men and women of all ages, stages, and walks of life, I'm hearing a recurring theme —their heart's desire to be strong for their families and communities. In short, they long to be courageous so God can use them to change the world. Is God calling you to have more courage? Remember, it's love that makes you brave.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" (Hebrews 12:7 NIV). While waiting for answers to my prayers for a baby, I found that simple, daily disciplines were somehow connected to hope. Small habits often lead to big dreams. And big dreams can have a wider reach than we may imagine. Navy Admiral and former SEAL William H. McRaven challenged graduates at the University of Texas to realize how simple, daily habits can have world changing impact. "Changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it," he said. "But change starts with small actions. Every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that they were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALS—but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over. If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter." His advice to the graduates? "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." During my years of infertility, I grappled with the long time spent "waiting." I wonder how I would have responded if I could have fast-forwarded my life's video for a glimpse of my three wonderful now-grown children? And our soon to be ten grandchildren? If I had known the outcome in advance, I might never have learned to draw meaning from the ordinary moments along the way. And I might have missed the life lessons and "little habits" I learned during my season of waiting. Today, I have practically forgotten the pain of wondering if I'd ever be a mom. I walk around every day like these amazing miracles are, well, ordinary. And in his kindness, I think this is just how God intended it. The daily adventure of taking my worries to God and watching for the answers has given a touch of wonder to my days. Ordinary? Yes, but with a bit of bling. I've come to believe seasons of waiting are not wasted. These and other lessons are still part of my days even now. I wait differently now because I really do believe in miracles. "Wait training" has taught me that hope counts. Faith works. And with love, anything is possible. Miracles are for real. And I really do believe I can change the world. But first, I think I'll go make up my bed.

by Marilynn Chadwick During my hardest days of waiting for a baby, there were certain friends who breathed fresh faith into my soul just when I wanted to quit. It's humbling to realize how much you depend on others. I've never liked being the needy one, much preferring to be the rock that others lean on. A Marine friend is one of those strong types. He saw lots of combat duty in Iraq and shared a lesson I'll never forget. "When danger hits," he explained, "I'm trained to run toward the danger. But my second response is to look around for my men." "So that you can protect them?" I asked. "No," he said firmly. "I look around for my men because I know I cannot do this mission by myself." Suffering humbled me. And so I let myself lean on and even into the strength of friends. They listened, cried, prayed, and waited with hope, daring to believe with me that God was greater than my prognosis. I knew I couldn't do this by myself. Marriages can dry up during a long trial like ours. Somehow, ours grew stronger. David and I learned the delicate dance of knowing when to be strong for the other and when it was ok to fall apart. Sometimes, falling apart together was all we could muster. I'm sure it was in those moments we forged our strongest bonds. Months became years, and by the end of the fourth year, waiting had become a way of life. I hovered between my dream and the daily need to live well in the moment. I wanted my life to count. While working on my master's in counseling, I spent time in vulnerable communities. My practical work and internship were mostly among the poor. Serving those hurting worse than I was turned out to be a surprising form of "self-help." I spent months working with young women caught in crisis pregnancies. An infertile woman desperate for a baby working with women who didn't want to be pregnant? An odd assignment, but it was strangely healing. I used to joke that I was like a recovering alcoholic serving drinks at a bar. I was surrounded by that which I could not have. Some say we should live to give. I discovered that I could give to live. And the mysterious alchemy of serving always worked its magic on my soul. Fighting forward was the healing, comforting, drug of choice that brought relief and filled the empty places of my soul. Again and again, I would say to God, "I'm entrusting my 'business' into Your hands while I put my hands to work on Your business." Are you waiting for something? Don't do it alone. Put yourself around people who will continue to spur you on toward the very thing for which you are waiting. And watch what God does in the process.

by Marilynn Chadwick "I'm sorry," the nurse said gently, "you are not pregnant." I sat stunned. All signs had pointed to pregnancy. It looked like our long wait was over. But once again, our hopes were dashed. Month after month of disappointment had left me raw. I couldn't have imagined that waiting for something I desperately wanted would be so hard. Nor could I have realized then that I would eventually come to find treasures in the dark place I called barrenness. Maybe you've tasted a similar despair when gazing over the wreckage of broken dreams, wondering, "How can I possibly get back up and try again?" It's easy to become battle-weary. Hard not to grow cynical. Desperate. It's the word I used to describe myself on hard days. Desperate. For. A. Baby. Now. My friend's three-year old daughter Molly summed it up quite well one day when, in the middle of a toddler tantrum, she cried out with all the drama her little heart could muster: "But Mommy, all I want is what I want when I want it!" Yes, Molly. My sentiments exactly. Woodrow Wilson once said that men "grow great by their dreams." I would learn that my life was shaped by the dream to have a baby and even more by the waiting. It ended up being a total of 96 combined months of waiting for our three beautiful children. Each one, something of a miracle. The struggle proved to be an expensive education in what I've come to refer to as my season of "wait training." For one thing, I learned to deal ruthlessly with worry, the most exhausting emotion of all. I was diligent to purge fear, or in Bible language, I took my thoughts captive. Guess you could also say I binged on faith. My hope soared in proportion to this lighter mental load. Learning how to wait required a fight. It took spiritual muscle to guard my hope. I resisted discouragement and fear as I would an aggressive intruder. After our cutting-edge medical treatments fell short, I was left with two choices. I could obsess about the lack of a baby—and probably go crazy—or I could find a way to have a meaningful life while I waited. In the end, a good dose of grace and grit were forged into my character. Other rewards were won. I became more resilient. I gained greater compassion for the suffering. I learned to find hope in life's barren places. And I discovered some surprising benefits of not getting what I wanted when I wanted it. Put simply, I learned how to wait well.

by Marilynn Chadwick "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19a NIV). God's strength can help us keep our hope alive. Hope, in turn, makes us stronger—like an anchor for our soul. Perhaps you're fighting to hold on to your hope. The mountain of obstacles facing you looks too big to overcome. When circumstances look bleak, it takes spiritual muscle to keep dreaming. We need daily, supernatural strength to resist the aggressive intruders of discouragement and fear. Years ago when I was walking through infertility, I experienced God's strength in practical ways. The lessons I learned are with me even today. One thing's for sure. Waiting is hard work! One day, my husband David spoke words that helped me turn a corner. He looked at me and said quietly, "You know, we'll never be happy with a baby unless we're happy without one." We were on vacation at the time. So I went for a walk to do business with God. Two hours—and a very long walk on the beach later—I returned. I had surrendered my dream to God. "Buried" my dream to have a baby in the sand. But I still held onto the hope that God had a plan for us that was good. I felt strangely empty and free at the same time. There was a new fire for change. I wanted to begin again. And this time, I held my dream with a looser grip. I took stock of where I was. What I had. What I lacked. Where I could grow. In short, I began to clean house. This was part practical and part spiritual. I worked at redoing the fixer-upper we had purchased a few years earlier. Paint, wallpaper and yard work were doable. These, I could control. I also took stock of my physical "house." My health had suffered from all the infertility drugs and treatments. Plus, I had always been a junk food addict. So I found a good naturopath and began to eat organic and healthy foods. This was not easy, nor was it embraced by most people forty years ago. I also found ways to discipline myself through exercise. I discovered that structure and order kept me mentally healthy. There was some comfort in controlling what I could control. I could not control when I would get pregnant. But I could make a conscious choice to declutter both my soul and my surroundings. Turns out our faith grows stronger when we lighten our load. The Bible encourages us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). Maybe there's something in your life slowing you down. If so, I encourage you to pray this prayer: Lord, reveal any sins, habits, or circumstances I need to "throw off" so that I can grow stronger and wait well. Empower me anew to pursue the dream You have placed in my heart.

by Marilynn Chadwick "How do I hold onto my hopes and dreams when God seems silent?" The question came from a good friend and a sincere follower of Christ. Her question hit a chord. How do we handle those times when we have prayed and prayed, but the answer is so slow in coming? Perhaps we sense that a particular dream is God's plan for us. But the days, weeks, months, and even years go by. How do we keep our dream alive? I think back to what I refer to as my season of "wait training." In our early years of marriage, David and I looked forward to the day we would have children. But our hopes for a baby stretched into six months, a year, two years, and eventually four years. Forty-eight straight months of drugs, surgeries, tests, tests, and more tests. And still no baby. But the years of waiting proved to be a good time to seek God. Strength came as I rested in the Lord, studied his Word, and held fast to his promises...day after day. I learned what Jesus meant when he encouraged us to "abide" in him (John 15:5). I drew special strength from Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I began to believe that God would either fulfill my heart's desires or change my desires to reflect his will for me. I also found comfort when I stepped out of my own pain to serve others. I explored ways to serve the least and lost in my own community. Opportunities opened up to travel to Africa on my first of what would be many missions trips. I discovered that when I poured my life out for those hurting worse than I was, an unexplainable joy began to spring forth. Isaiah 58:10 became a life verse: If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Seeking God and serving others while waiting for my own dream gave birth to a larger purpose. And "not getting what I wanted when I wanted it" turned out to be one of the best tools to sharpen my hearing of God's voice. I discovered what it means to "delight in the Lord." Friends, our seasons of waiting can open the door to deeper intimacy with Jesus. What's more, those times we thought were barren can become our seasons of greatest fruitfulness and joy.

by David Chadwick The full armor of God must be put on each and every day as we face the wiles and tactics of the enemy. As we learn to guard ourselves, we discipline ourselves to walk in greater measures of wholeness as we are transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). Jesus believed the Bible to be true. Is Jesus God? He claimed to be in John 14:6 and many other places. Either he is a liar, a crazy person, or he really is the way, the truth and the life! If Jesus is, in fact, God – and the Resurrection proves it – then we must take note of the things he said. He constantly used the Word of God in his teachings, quoting from the Old Testament often. He swung the sword of the Spirit in his own life to defeat his opponents (see Matthew 23), predict his death and resurrection and defeat Satan himself from tempting him. And here is a simple syllogism. If Jesus is God, and he quoted the Old Testament constantly to defeat his enemies, then a) the bible must be God's Word and b) we too should use it to defeat the spiritual enemies who attack us. Also, please consider this reality. Jesus must have learned and memorized God's Word as a child because he was able to quote God's truths when needed. Think about the intentionality of Mary and Joseph to raise him up with an awareness of the Holy Scriptures. It is so important for parents to teach your kids to memorize God's Word. And, finally, if Jesus needed to use the Word of God in his life as God's Son in human flesh, how much more should we need to know it and use it? God's Word is true! Wield it in this godless culture! And choose to walk in confidence that the truth that comes from the Word of God sets captives free! If someone says to you, "I don't believe the Bible is true," simply respond, "Well, I do!" Then use it against the devil's constant accusations, lies, and slander against you. I pray this week has given you more confidence to believe in God's Word. But, more importantly, to use it in your constant battle against the enemy. He doesn't relent in his desire to kill, steal, and destroy your life. You must be equally resistant to use, quote, and believe God's Word in the fight. After all, the battle belongs to the Lord. Jesus has won the victory. And we fight from this victory, not for victory in everything we face. In Jesus's mighty name…Amen!

by David Chadwick God's Word is so important. Followers of Jesus must adhere to its accuracy and demands. It's not a theoretical suggestion. It's the heart of our Creator for his Son's disciples. It's the wisdom from our Father for his children. We see so many reasons, both spiritual and practical, for why God's Word is important. Spiritually, it is the gift God gives his people to use as an offensive weapon against our spiritual enemy, the devil. But there are also practical reasons to trust God's Word. Thus far this week, we have explored the manuscript evidence. Yesterday we examined the archaeological evidence. Today, let's glance at the prophetic evidence that points to the significance of the Word of God. Prophetic evidence is tremendous confirmation for the importance and accuracy of God's Word. Predictive prophecies are used all throughout Scripture to give clarity on what is to come in the future. With great specificity, the Holy Spirit gives different writers insights on what's going to happen in the future. For example, there are over 300 biblical prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming of Jesus hundreds of years before his arrival. For example, his birthplace in Bethlehem was prophesied in Micah 5:2 some 500 years plus before it happened. Psalm 22 prophesied the suffering Jesus would experience on the cross, written some 900 plus years before it happened. We see the prophecy of Jesus's substitutionary atonement and specific aspects of his suffering in Isaiah 53, verses written 500 plus years before it ever occurred. Now think about 300 plus prophecies having been specifically fulfilled by Jesus hundreds of years before they ever happened. The probability factor of this happening is incredible! If you were to take just eight prophecies being fulfilled in specificity in Jesus, it's a one to the 10 millionth chance of it happening. Friends, that is mind-blowing! The Holy Spirit truly wrote this book, inspiring men to put the actual words of God to paper. He knew that these predictive prophecies would be fulfilled in Jesus, pointing to the true and compelling message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is yet another extra-biblical reason to believe we can wield the sword of the Spirit in confidence. Because it's true. Now quote it regularly when the enemy attacks you. He knows it's true. So should you.

by David Chadwick We are taking time this week to deeply examine the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This part of the full armor of God is the only offensive piece of armor. It is so important to believe in its absolute authority while also understanding how to use it against the enemy's lies. God's Word is important because it is the only offensive weapon against the enemy's schemes. But there are also practical reasons why God's Word is important. Why can we trust it? Are there reasons to believe in its authority? We saw yesterday that there is overwhelming manuscript evidence pointing to both its importance and veracity. There is also archaeological evidence that supports it. Did you know that archaeology was a scientific discipline founded in the mid 1800s? More than anything else, its primary purpose was to either prove or disprove the Bible. Suffice it to say, after all these years, there is nothing that archaeology has discovered that disproves one biblical teaching. In fact, it's just the opposite. What has been discovered supports the biblical narrative. New evidence is constantly being found to continue to support the historical accuracy of God's Word. We know that God calls us to live by faith. As you remember, the shield of faith is part of the full armor of God. But sometimes faith has concrete reasons to support the belief. That is the case here. The scientific research of archaeology supports the biblical narrative. This reality should help your confidence as you study and obey God's Word. And then wield it as a powerful offensive weapon against the enemy's incessant lies.

by David Chadwick This week, we are taking a deeper look into the last piece in the armor of God, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The Word of God is not an archaic book with no impact on today. It is full of truths, principles, and realities that will push back against the dark schemes and tactics of the devil. It's God's story, giving us direction for how to live in a way that reflects the heart of God on earth as it is in heaven. How, when people obeyed God's directives, they were generally blessed. When they didn't, they were generally cursed. Today, I want to help you walk in greater confidence in God's Word as you use it as a weapon. There is a great deal of manuscript evidence to support the truth of God's Word. Did you know there are over 5,500 New Testament manuscripts? And the closest ones are within 100 years of its origination. No other historical document has even close to that number and proximity. The Iliad and The Odyssey have around 90, and the earliest one is within 900 years of its origination. Yet no one doubts their veracity. Some raise criticisms of supposed "variants" in the Bible and point out over 25,000 supposed errors in the New Testament. But these errors are mostly copyist errors (an "a" that should be "an"). These minor errors have no effect on the understanding of the clear meaning of the text and overall Christian doctrine. 99% of the Bible's doctrines of faith are clearly understood. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Old Testament documents are more proof that this is, in fact, the Word of God! Do some study here. The accuracy of these documents being handed down for hundreds of years is undeniable. By the second century, there was a mostly complete Bible of both the Old Testament and New Testament - circulating around Christian communities. The Holy Spirit was working mysteriously behind the scenes to give us God's Word for all ages. The Bible really is trustworthy! It is true. Quote it against the enemy's lies and watch him flee!

by David Chadwick Last week, we looked at all but one part of the full armor of God. Today, and throughout this entire week, we will look at the final needed piece in the full armor of God. It's time to pick up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It is the only offensive weapon given to us to fight against the enemy's wiles. With every other piece of armor, we are to operate defensively by guarding ourselves with the truths and reality of salvation of Jesus Christ. We are to bind truth to us with the belt of truth, discerning good from evil and knowing truth from error. We are to cover our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness. The shield of faith is full body coverage, intended to call our entire self to live in alignment with the atmosphere of heaven, which is faith. The shoes of the gospel of peace to give us peace in all circumstances. But there's one more piece: the sword of the Spirit which is God's Word. The Bible. Scripture. Why do we followers of Jesus believe the bible to be true? Inerrant? Authoritative? Let's begin with this reality. Think about it. God's Word was written over 1500 years ago in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on three different continents, by 35 different authors with one central message: Jesus came into this world to die for our sins. The entire bible points to this one reality! How could such amazing unity have happened unless the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible? That's what the bible says about itself. Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is the Bible's self-attestation that its words are God-breathed. For centuries, it has been the world's best-selling book and I think it will continue to be so. Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God – Jesus said so in Matthew 4:1-4. This week, we will look more specifically at wielding the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, so that we can have victory over the enemy and all of his godless forces.

by David Chadwick This week, we have been looking at the full armor of God, being intentional to learn how to put it on piece by piece. The shoes with the readiness of the gospel of peace are the next things we must put on to be fully covered in the armor of God. A soldier can't win without shoes that grip the earth. We can't defeat the enemy unless we can stand firmly on the gospel that gives us peace. Peace means Jesus's presence is readily available in anything you face. Though the world is crazy, and your life will be challenged - when you choose to believe the gospel you are not only given the gift of eternal life, but Jesus promises to be with you. He will give you his peace amidst the storms of life. Did you know peace also means shalom? Shalom is intricately connected to the word "wholeness" - abiding in the deep understanding that no matter what, God blesses your life with his eternal presence. The gospel assures Jesus's followers that his love conquers all. Because of this gospel, we can walk in peace. As you stand firm against the enemy, your shoes are firmly gripped to the ground. In the midst of conflict, they do not slip and slide, but are planted confidently and courageously. But don't miss this: these shoes have a purpose beyond your security. They are also to prepare you to be ready, at any moment throughout the day, to share the gospel of peace with anyone who walks into your life at any time. "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…" (1 Peter 3:15). We are to be ready to share Jesus with anyone! To give a defense of the hope that lives in us. And this happens when we put on the shoes with the readiness of the gospel of peace. That was Jesus's design to give us daily security. It was his design as well for how the gospel would be shared around the world. Walk well!

by David Chadwick The next piece in the armor of God is the helmet of salvation. We are called to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). To think like he thinks. We are transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2). As we think like Jesus thinks, we change and are renewed. We are to focus our thought life on things that are above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). As we learn to have the mind of Christ, we become transformed and renewed, and our thoughts will actually start to recalibrate toward the things of God and his kingdom. The spiritual battleground is in your mind. Control what you think and you will control how you feel. Change your beliefs and you will change your behavior. If I could make this one plea to you - please be mindful of what you are allowing into your minds. It really does affect you more than you know. For example, the power of social media comes largely because of how well it can control your mind. After you put on the helmet of salvation, ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is anything that could be hindering your ability to control your thought life and call it into submission with Jesus. The world wants you to think that you are subservient to your feelings. It's not true. You CAN control your feelings by controlling your thoughts! If you don't believe me, I would lovingly challenge you to memorize some of the Scriptures that I shared above. Or maybe try fasting. Ask God to replace bad patterns with holy ones. He might even ask you to delete your social media. Put down your phone. Go for a walk each morning. You might be surprised what solutions the Lord will show you if you are faithful to put on the helmet of salvation and ask him to change the way you think. And please note this fact: the helmet of salvation should remind your thought life daily that you are saved! Your entire life–body, soul, and spirit–belong to Jesus. Your eternity is secure. You are headed to heaven! He who lives in you (Jesus) is greater than your enemy (Satan) who lives in the world (1 John 4:4). Memorize this verse for help every day! Something is molding you into its image at every turn: the world or the Word. Christ or culture. Put on the helmet of salvation. And live in Jesus's victory every moment of every day.

by David Chadwick The full armor of God is to be put on by every believer to protect us from Satan's attacks during perilous times. The next piece is the shield of faith. The only definition of faith in the Bible is found in Hebrews 11:1. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say that without faith, it is impossible to please God. The shield for a Roman soldier actually covered his entire body. It was thick with leather and metal so that when the enemy's fiery arrows would hit the shield, they would immediately be extinguished. We, too, have an enemy. When he daily fires his arrows of lies, accusations, and threats, we hold up the shield of faith – a shield that says our God is in control. Jesus was raised from the dead and rules over all. Nothing is impossible for him. We belong to Jesus! We are his. Therefore, nothing can harm us. I want you to take note of something else. In Roman culture, not only were these shields able to cover the entire body, they were also able to interlock with other soldiers. When God said to pick up the shield of faith in Ephesians 6, it was to represent the full body protection that comes from walking in faith. It was also to stress the powerful connectivity that takes place when those in the bride of Christ operate in faith together. We are connected to Jesus by faith. Please note how we need the church! The body! The bride of Christ! It is essential in our culture. And when we stand alongside other believers with our shields held high, we stand interlocked with a unity of faith and a protection that frustrates and thwarts the enemy's plans. Pick up the shield of faith. Faith is the rarified air of heaven. We need to breathe it with every breath. When we do, the enemy cannot get to us. Our air of faith will choke out his tactics. And always remember, because of Jesus, we win!

by David Chadwick This week we are going through each of the pieces in the armor of God. In order to be protected, we must apply the full armor of God. The next piece in Ephesians 6 is the breastplate of righteousness. It covers our vital organ: the heart. A breastplate, in Roman times, was made of such a strong metal that any weapon would bounce off it. The heart must be protected by the strongest possible means! This is especially true with our spiritual hearts. They must be covered with Jesus's righteousness. His forgiveness. We must know how God sees us post-conversion to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that Jesus did not know sin, but willingly took on our sin so that we can become his righteousness. The Father looks at those of us who have received Jesus just as if we have never sinned. We need not worry about anything because the breastplate of his righteousness covers our hearts. Therefore, all the enemy's lies must bounce off our hearts and never penetrate them. We must constantly believe and practice Matthew 6:33. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Jesus calls his followers to prioritize him above all else. And then everything else in life will fall into line. Because Jesus's righteousness is now in our hearts, we act righteously in accordance with the Father's moral will and law. We hunger and thirst after righteousness because that's who we are! We do it because we want to, not have to. We know all acts of righteousness please the Lord, the One who gave us his righteousness through the cross of Calvary. May the breastplate of righteousness guard your heart, for from it should flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

by David Chadwick We are taking the next five days to look at the full armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-20. Dear friends, our war is not against flesh and blood. It is against powers and principalities of darkness. Spiritual enemies. Forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we must fight spiritual powers with spiritual weapons. Paul outlines in these verses the essential pieces of the armor of God to put on every day to "stand" victoriously over the enemy. The first piece is the "belt of truth." Other pieces are attached to the belt, but the belt must be put on first. It is the necessary first piece for all other pieces to make sense. Followers of Jesus must believe that there is objective truth in God's world that undergirds everything. Satan is the "father of lies" (John 8:44). To destroy people and cultures, he does whatever he can to convince people that there is no such thing as objective truth. What is clear in nature and God's Word. But there is absolute truth! It is first embodied in a person. His name is Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Truth is also found in his Word. Jesus says in John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." There are moral boundaries in our lives, like guardrails on a highway or banks on a river for health and protection. Without them, there is destruction on the highways and rivers become illness-infected swamps. But when you know God's truth in Jesus, you will be set free. With God's safe boundaries, to live and enjoy life as God intended (John 8:31-32). Put first the belt of truth around your waist. Every morning. Every day. For without a belief in absolute and objective moral truth, you are vulnerable to every lie of the spiritual enemy of your soul.

by Marilynn Chadwick When people meet my 95-year-old father, they often ask, "What's his secret? How does your dad look so young and stay so sharp?" Daddy would be the first to tell you that part of his secret was caring for his beloved wife. He and my mom had been married just shy of 70 years when she died this past January. My mother had been bedridden the last fifteen years of her life. A ruptured appendix and complications from the surgery robbed this once-robust grandmother of her ability to walk. But enough of her razor-sharp mind was still there that conversation was still possible. Daddy insisted upon caring for her at home with nurses' aides to help him with wheelchair transfers and daily care. When I was growing up, Mom and Dad would each say they "married up." Mom would tell us three girls how lucky she was to find Daddy. And Daddy said he was just glad his "turn in line" finally came. To which Mom would answer back, "Well, I was hoping you would ask me out!" One day toward the end when Mom was barely hanging on to life, Daddy looked at her lying in bed after he had brushed her hair and said quietly, "Doesn't she look pretty?" Few can imagine the challenges Mom and Dad faced on a daily basis. Daddy did the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Also catheters, baths, and diapers. There were occasional trips to the emergency room because of infections. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Sometimes we overlook the heroic nature of the people right in front of us. They seem so, well, normal. Ordinary. But looking back, I can see how Mom and Dad's values quietly shaped my own. "Live a life of sacrifice and honor. Give yourself for the greater good. Put others first. Don't give up. Family is worth it. No matter what comes your way, persevere. Trust God. And always do the right thing." These were some of the lessons my parents taught me by example. Now Daddy is creating a new life for himself without my mom. It's been comforting for our family to reflect on the legacy that she left. I feel enormous gratitude for their sacrifices. Quite often, the most noble and enduring way to live is with a love that never dies. God has given us ordinary heroes, often within our own families. To inspire us. To strengthen us. So that we, too, can finish strong.

by Marilynn Chadwick Sometimes an ordinary person assumes hero proportions only after we hear their story. Such was the case with one of my seminary classmates. From our cohort's introductions, I learned this man, whom I'll call Ahn Wok, was a neurosurgeon. Impressive enough. He was lighthearted with a quick wit and a kind manner. During one class, he shared how he had escaped Vietnam on a boat during the war. It was only then I realized he was one of the famed, freedom-seeking "boat people" who endured harrowing dangers as they fled their nation's communist takeover. Thousands of Vietnamese fled their country by sea following the collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975. What's more, he and his mother watched in horror as Ahn Wok's father and sister were pushed out of the overcrowded boat and left behind. Ahn Wok's family was finally reunited, but only after twelve years of separation and long stretches spent in refugee camps in Indonesia and finally America. He loved America and he was deeply grateful for his freedom. Now married with three children, Ahn Wok had become a highly respected neurosurgeon whose deep Christian faith inspired him to seek a seminary education in addition to his multiple medical specialty degrees. For one assignment in our Spiritual Formation class, we were instructed to practice "Sabbath moments" as a daily spiritual discipline. Ahn Wok's words challenged me to see my life with new eyes. I hope the words he shared with our class will similarly inspire you to approach your own days with a sense of awe and wonder, even gratitude: "For me, I found throughout the week that Sabbath moments give us time to rest and be closer to God. My day usually starts around 5am with a peaceful reading and studying of the Bible. This is a mini-Sabbath that sets the stage for the rest of my day. As I reflected on what it means to have opportunities to rest and commune with God, I realized my 'Sabbath moments' are often experienced during surgery. Those are the times when I get to rest and feel closest to God. I am away from the world, unreachable by phone or text. Through the lens of the operating microscope, I am transported into God's world within the body. I am mesmerized by all the unfathomable beauty that God has created within each of us. From the 5mm strand of optic nerve that meanders through the optic canal into the brain allowing us to see the magnificent world, to the wisps of nerve roots that allow us to wiggle our big toes, it is an awe-inspiring view each and every time. I am very thankful to experience 'Sabbath moments' in the Operating Room every week." Why not begin today to explore ways to keep watch for the tiny wonders of your daily life? Go for a walk. Watch the sky. Play with your children. Whatever you do, draw from the example of Ahn Wok, a man who knows what it means to lose one's freedom—and to get it back.

by Marilynn Chadwick Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7 NIV). I've long been inspired by the vibrant faith of believers in China's underground church. No one is sure, but some think there may be over 60 million believers in these secret house churches. Astounding when you consider all the forces over the years that have tried to stamp out the Gospel in China! Chinese believers are known for their steadfast and joyful faith in the face of intense persecution. A man who had just returned from visiting members of an underground church was asked how the believers were able to cope with the continued trials. "These brothers and sisters know this is not the end of the story," he explained. "They EXPECT God's glory to come at the end of their trial. They believe the trial will end. And they expect to be victorious." Are you wrestling through a tough problem? Maybe it feels like your trial will never end. Perhaps we don't suffer the same kind of intense persecution as Chinese believers, but we fight the same devil. James urges us to "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 NIV). Peter challenges us to join the "resistance": "Resist him [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:9 NIV). We can draw strength from the example of Chinese believers. True heroes of the faith, they remind us that our trial "is not the end of the story." They inspire us to "expect God's glory." We strengthen our own faith when we encourage each other to stand "firm in the faith." Joy in our journey comes as we team up with other believers. The Christian life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. So daily, let's ask the Lord to help us find joy while we persevere!

by Marilynn Chadwick I still marvel when I remember the beautiful young mother I once met in a tiny country in a forgotten corner of the world. She was a survivor of the horrific genocide in Burundi that had exploded alongside Rwanda's frenzy of killings. I'd been invited to teach on the subject of prayer to a group of church leaders and pastors' wives. All were survivors of the war and no strangers to prayer. So I asked if any had personal stories to tell. One by one, the women stood and shared stirring accounts of God's miraculous power during times of great danger. Finally, this young mother rose to her feet and began her story. She had eight children, she told us, and lived in the countryside. One day she left her children in the care of a neighbor so she could gather vegetables. Later that day, her neighbor rushed out to tell her that her two-year-old son had suddenly fallen ill and died. She paused—then haltingly resumed her story. "Desperate and afraid, I suddenly remembered how Elijah prayed for the widow's little boy who died," she said. "The boy finally came back to life." So I cried out to God, "You did it for Elijah—do it for me!" She prayed and prayed and prayed. "Finally," she said quietly, "I could not look at my son any longer, so I went outside." She faltered for words. By this point, I'm thinking of what to say to her. How do I comfort this woman who had obviously lost her child? And how do we respond when our prayers are not answered the way we want? However, I was not prepared for what happened next. "I went back inside," she continued slowly. "But this time, when I put my hands on my little boy's lifeless body and began to pray, he suddenly coughed and sputtered and sat up—he was alive!" A hush fell over the room. I was face-to-face with an ordinary mother who lived oceans away from me. But I knew I was in the presence of a woman of great faith. A true warrior. A hero. Now, you may be thinking, her little boy wasn't really dead. Or why didn't God heal my sick child? A story like this raises many questions for which I don't have answers. But I do know this: In a place like Burundi, where they have tasted death up close and where doctors are nearly nonexistent, believers sometimes experience a dimension of God's grace I seldom see in my safe, suburban world. I've heard similar stories firsthand from war refugees in the Middle East and slum dwellers in India. Such women remind me that faith is a fierce fight. I walked away from that encounter in awe, but also challenged. I realize God doesn't always heal or deliver or raise someone from the dead. But I was inspired by the way this young mother fought for the life of her child. She was courageous. Persistent. And she encouraged me to keep on fighting the fight of faith, even when things may look hopeless—and to never be too quick to give up on God.

by Marilynn Chadwick Barbara was one of the most inspiring real-life heroes I've ever known. This vibrant woman with a giant heart and an easy laugh was also a courageous spiritual warrior. She became a long-time friend and mentor. And she opened my eyes to the impact one woman can have on her family and community. Years earlier, Barbara's husband had been murdered in a drive-by shooting while walking home from work, leaving her with three small children. She fled to a safer neighborhood to raise her children. "But I began to hear the Lord's voice," she shared. "He told me to go back to the old neighborhood and rescue the children." She sensed God calling her through these words: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40 NIV). "When crack cocaine got our mommas," she explained to me, "the babies were at the mercy of every kind of evil." To Barbara, all children were "babies." It was those children that Barbara was going back to rescue. She found a dilapidated house and turned it into a mission home. "I gave the little ones baths and helped the older ones with homework. I fed them, too, since they were always hungry," she said with a smile. Weekly, she held church services for her neighbors. Years later, a former hit man told Barbara that he had been hired by a drug dealer to kill her—she was hurting the drug business. He would sit outside the open window listening to her preach the gospel. But something would not let him carry out the murder. Later, Barbara told me, this very same man accepted Jesus. Barbara transformed a dangerous neighborhood into a place of hope. Charlotte city officials even renamed her street "Peaceful Way." God sometimes brings hope to others through your broken places. Like Barbara, you may discover you find your life as you give it away. "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday" (Isaiah 58:10 ESV).

by Marilynn Chadwick A sense of calling in life is vital for anyone. The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18a KJV). Moms raising their children in fragile neighborhoods have shared how having a purpose in life can often divert their children from drugs, gangs, and prison. Not a luxury, vision often means survival. My young friend Dominique was just ten when gang members befriended him. "I was kind of a mascot," he says. But gang mascots became gang members, and he was headed for trouble. One day, Dominique discovered an online chess game. He got the hang of it and became good—really good. He didn't like to lose, and pretty soon he had taught himself a variety of creative chess moves. Before too long, he was "busy" when gang members called. Busy with chess. Busy with starting a chess club in his school. Then busy as chess club president. When he got to high school, he added competitive wrestling to his already busy schedule. Dominique was way too busy finding his purpose to run with gangs. In time, Dominique became the top high school chess player in the state of North Carolina's Scholastic Chess Association. He won a national tournament and was also within striking distance of becoming a Grand Master—an international distinction. In his application to the Christian college he attended, Dominique wrote: "By getting closer to the One who allowed me this chance and continuing with the plan that we dreamed up together when I was a young child, I feel that I will be able to help someone else and make a lasting impact." Dominique further distinguished himself in college as a natural leader. Even as a child, Dominique had a sense of God's destiny through his childhood dreams of playing chess. And when Dominique heard a clear presentation of the Gospel his first semester in college, this vibrant young man accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Dominique's earthly dreams had eternal implications that went far beyond the mastery of chess. Since that time, he has been a mentor and role model for the hundreds of kids he has taught to play chess throughout our community's schools. He is also a husband. He and his precious wife just welcomed their first baby. Dominique is an ordinary young man who learned the secret of dreaming big. I hope his story will help you pursue your own dreams—no matter how impossible they seem. Remember, "...with God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26 ESV).

by Marilynn Chadwick Sometimes, our toughest battles are for our God-given dreams. I wonder if some wars are harder than others because the enemy knows the stakes are so high. Our daughter once said something to me which made me pause: "Mama, you didn't know when you were going through all those years of infertility that you were also fighting for all these little people to be born," pointing to her children–our grandchildren. I think back to those long years of infertility and my fierce fight to have a baby. I couldn't have known it at the time, but I was waging a battle not just for our first born daughter, but also for our next baby, a son. Then, another son. And our soon to be ten grandchildren. Perhaps my fight was so fierce because the enemy wanted what I had—the promise of children and grandchildren who would glorify God. And ultimately, generations beyond those. But I had something else the enemy wanted. And so do you. He wanted to steal my testimony. He wanted to make it impossible for me to tell the miraculous story of God's healing that enabled me to have those babies. He wanted to rob me of the chance to encourage others who are waiting for answers to their own prayers. Quite simply, the devil wants to steal the story God is weaving through your dream. Or through this trial you're enduring so bravely. He wants to steal your testimony. In the end, he wants to steal God's glory. The Bible says that we triumph over the enemy's tactics through the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Dear friend, don't give up. God is faithful. One day, you will have a story to tell. A story that will cause others yearn to know this wonderful God who is the Giver of Dreams.

by Marilynn Chadwick Have you ever faced a trial so painful you couldn't endure the weight of it? A trial so dark that the enemy taunts you with lies whispered in the dark: God is not listening to your prayers. Why else would He seem so silent? When all seems hopeless, I find encouragement from believers who have passed through the furnace and come forth with faith shining. Their stories inspire me to hold onto my hope. I want to share one such story with you. I met Ange during one of my first missions trips to Rwanda. Most everyone I met was a genocide survivor with a hard story to tell. But it was Ange's journey of agony-turned-into-hope that gripped my soul. Ange was in high school when genocide broke out in Rwanda in 1994. She and fiancé, Emanuel, fled on foot to the neighboring Congo. They married and had baby Edna. The brutal war spilled over into the Congo. Soldiers attacked their refugee camp and Emanuel and Ange, with eighteen-month-old Edna on her back, ran terrified into the forest. They became separated as they fled for their lives. A few days later while Ange was gathering firewood, soldiers kidnapped little Edna. Ange ran frantically through the forest searching for the soldiers. She discovered the baby had become sick and died. Ange's heart and her hope were shattered. She hid in the forest for weeks with no clean water, food, fire, or shelter. As she describes it, "It was like we were dead, but still living." Ange made her way to Kenya with the help of a relief organization, still searching for her husband Emanuel. She cried out, "Oh God, you know my beloved first born was taken away. And you know how I could be happy if I could find my beloved husband! Please Lord, I hope you have not forgotten me." Ange continued to seek God's purpose for her own life while she waited for her dream to be fulfilled. Sensing a call to ministry, she began attending Bible college in Kenya. God gave Ange hope, encouraging her with these words: We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5 NIV). Ange continues her story, "One day, I received the amazing news that my husband was alive! It was like a dream! I stayed up all night praising and thanking God!" After eight long years, Ange and Emanuel were finally reunited on November 14, 2004. God soon blessed them with a baby boy they called Cherubim. When I first met Ange and heard her story in 2008, she had just given birth to twins Joshua and Geoffrey. Ange loves to encourage others to hold onto their faith when times look darkest. I hope you will be strengthened by her story and this prayer from her heart to yours: "May God bless you and help you to be patient in every situation you may pass through. Glory be to the Lord JESUS. Amen!"

by Marilynn Chadwick Sometimes you find heroes in the most unlikely places. I'm referring to those ordinary folks who are quietly living faithful lives—in my eyes, they're the real heroes. A while back, we traveled to our nation's capital. David and I met with influential men and women who are faithfully serving our country. We toured the capitol building. We were reminded anew of our awe for the courageous faith of our Founding Fathers. Their names are written in history—their impact will last for generations. But for me, the real hero showed up—of all places—in a taxicab. Our driver was a gentle, friendly man with an east African accent. He talked about his 33 years driving a cab. He boasted with that "dad-kind-of-pride" that his three kids had all graduated from fine colleges. All had prestigious jobs working in Washington, DC. "You must have done some pretty good parenting," I commented. "What's your secret?" "My secret," he laughed, "is America. In America, if you're willing to work hard, you can reach your dream." "There are some who might disagree," I replied. "Hmmm," he paused. "They have never lived in another country." Our cab driver told us how he had fled the severe persecution of Christians in Eritrea, formerly part of Ethiopia. I noticed the prominent cross on his dashboard. "People here don't know what it's like to not have freedom," he said quietly. As a much younger man he had been educated as an accountant back in Eritrea. But since coming to America, he has worked as a cab driver. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. He was well past his prime. "We have very smart kids," he smiled. "They call every weekend and want to come see us. They say, 'Mom, what are you cooking?' Yes, I am a blessed man, indeed." An ordinary man who lived a faithful life. He had also learned the secret to real contentment. I sensed that heaven must have been applauding this humble soul. And I knew we'd been in the presence of a true hero that day.

by Marilynn Chadwick Are there times in your life when you feel fresh out of strength and empty of courage? Perhaps you've been enduring a long trial. You've grown weary waiting for what you believe to be a God-given dream. It's during those very times I've learned to draw inspiration from someone who has gone through similar difficulties—and prevailed. It's amazing how someone else's story can breathe life into my soul and revive my hope. If an ordinary person can persevere through a tough trial, then maybe I can too! During the many long years I suffered infertility, I didn't especially want pity. I didn't even want understanding. And quite honestly, I didn't just want to feel better. What I truly wanted was—a baby! Quite simply, I longed to hear stories from women who had also struggled with infertility and finally got pregnant. Perhaps you've been there. You're up against what seems like an impossible situation. Maybe you're finding it doesn't help simply to share your burden, gain sympathy, or even to be "understood." You're longing for victory—an end to your trial. You're desperate to overcome and to see God prevail. In short, you want stronger faith to keep dreaming and believe that God is still at work. That He has not forgotten you. You want strength to hold on to your faith. To your hope. To your love. I've taken a look into my past, reflecting on my own spiritual journey. I'm reminded of the many stories of ordinary heroes which have given me hope. What are their secrets of strength and stories of joy that can help me learn to remain strong and filled with faith? Over the next two weeks, I'll introduce you to some of the heroes who have inspired me. Ordinary people who have dared to live life in an extraordinary way. Ordinary people who held onto their God-given dreams. Who endured tough trials. In time, their tests become their testimony. Perhaps their stories will refresh your hopes and build your faith—just like they did mine.

by Marilynn Chadwick The sign in front of a small country church caught my eye: "It's not happy people who are the most thankful. Rather it's thankful people who are the most happy." The power of giving thanks to transform any situation is still something of a mystery. When someone gave thanks in the Bible, a miracle often followed. Jesus gave thanks before He broke the five loaves and two fish to feed the five thousand (Matthew 14:19-21). He lifted His eyes to heaven and gave thanks to His Father before calling the four-day-dead Lazarus to come forth from his tomb (John 11:38-44). But gratitude doesn't always come naturally. Just ask any parent. We have to teach our children to be thankful. In much the same way, God trains His children. We see in the Old Testament that He created rituals and celebrations to teach thankfulness. When we give thanks to God, we experience something even more powerful—His grace. Our word "grateful" comes from an old English word "grate," which means "thanks." "Grateful" is also related to the word grace. The Greek word commonly translated "grace" in the Bible is charis. Grace describes God's unmerited favor to us through Jesus Christ. Charis, or grace, can also mean gratitude. "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude [charis] in your hearts" (Colossians 3:16 NIV). Charis is the very substance of our salvation. "For it is by grace [charis] you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians 2:8 AMP). How exciting to think that as we practice gratitude, we breathe new life into our understanding of God's amazing grace! However, it requires somewhat of a fight to remain thankful when life is hard. To walk in God's grace in our broken and sometimes hostile world. Peter reminded a church that was being heavily persecuted to hold onto "the true grace of God" and "to stand firm" in this wonderful, gratitude-infused grace (1 Peter 5:12). I believe that as we become more and more thankful, we just might discover that we're also becoming happier!

by Marilynn Chadwick Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some seem to think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to time the writing of their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. Sounds a little like weightlifting, doesn't it? The results of the study showed that those who practiced sustained gratitude for just five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours! Being thankful can improve our mental health as well. The Bible teaches us that a thankful heart is also a joyful heart. Joy comes when we spend time with Jesus: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Acts 2:28 NIV). The Greek word for "joy" in this particular verse, euphrosune, comes from two words that mean "good" and "mind." In other words, a sound mind. Joy springs from a healthy mind when we're connected to Jesus. Just spending time in His presence can be healing. Such good news! When we practice being thankful, we also become more aware of Jesus and all His blessings. This naturally (and supernaturally) increases our joy. And who doesn't want more joy? It's a language anyone can understand. The story is told of missionaries who went to a tiny village in a faraway place. Even before they became fluent in their native language, some villagers approached them wanting to hear more about "this Jesus" after hearing the sounds of joyful laughter coming from the missionaries' tent. So today, let's exercise our "thank you muscles." This, in turn, will help us be filled with joy. Let's pray now that thirsty people—especially those who may not even know what they're thirsty for—will be drawn to our joy. Above all, let's pray they are drawn to our Jesus who gives us this joy!

by Marilynn Chadwick I remember an old Tarzan movie in which the famed ape man was peering at a droplet of water through a microscope. Tarzan was shocked to see the water was teeming with microorganisms invisible to the naked eye. What if we could peer into the spiritual world? Like Tarzan, I imagine we'd be shocked to see the real source of our battles. The Bible tells of an atmosphere filled with invisible enemies. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood…but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 NLT). Scripture doesn't describe this realm in great detail. It does, however, tell us how to fight. We're told to put on our "spiritual armor" (Ephesians 6:10-20). To "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 NIV). Giving thanks can be a strategic weapon in our spiritual battles. We see Paul and Silas singing and praising God in a Philippian jail after being severely beaten and chained. Their chains fell off, the jailer accepted Jesus, and his whole family became believers! (Acts 16:19-24). The children of Israel sang praises right in the middle of a huge battle: "Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!" The Lord caused the enemy to fight among themselves and God's people won an astounding victory! (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Perhaps you're facing a spiritual battle today. You've resisted, prayed, and fought the good fight. But you're weary. Maybe this is your strategic moment to thank God. Let God fight this battle for you. Rest in His power. Remember, the devil and his minions hate childlike trust. If you stand firm in your faith and continue to thank God, the devil will eventually have to flee. After all, he is allergic to praise.

by Marilynn Chadwick Thankful. One simple word—thankful, emblazoned across the front of a woman's t-shirt, caught my eye. There was a period at the end of what wasn't even a sentence. Thankful. So, I guess you could read it this way: "Thankful, period." I would like that to describe me. I'm thankful. Period. But I have to confess. Sometimes I'm less than thankful. Maybe I am not paying enough attention to my blessings or perhaps I'm taking God's benefits for granted. David and I have a dear friend from Africa, one of the most joyful believers I've ever known. He once spoke words that jolted me out of my spiritual lethargy. A survivor of Rwanda's genocide, he had seen more death and destruction than I could possibly imagine. "Do you have all your arms and legs—your limbs?" he asked us. "Then you are blessed!" "Do you have your eyes, your sense of hearing, your ability to speak? Then praise God and give Him thanks. Rejoice and count your amazing blessings!" he exclaimed. From his perspective, it was incredible simply to be alive. Healthy. Not maimed by war. What a reason to rejoice! Stop for a minute and reflect on the many benefits you enjoy simply because you don't live in an area ravaged by war. Do you have all your limbs? Can you walk? Are you able to see and hear and talk? Then, as our friend would say, "Rejoice at your great blessings!" His words challenged me to become more intentional about giving thanks to the Lord for my blessings. And to resist complaining about petty annoyances. Next time you're tempted to grumble, pause. Take a look at your hands and feet—and be thankful. Reflect upon the ability to walk and see and hear. Count the ways God has poured His grace upon you. Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:2 ESV).

by Marilynn Chadwick One day I was outside on my deck enjoying the quiet when suddenly, two fighter jets flew overhead at a very low altitude. Their roar was deafening. Everything around me shook violently. Now I surmised the two massive military jets were part of the game opener at a nearby football stadium, so I wasn't overly alarmed. Even so, I was overwhelmed by their sound and speed. By their sheer power! Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes and I got a lump in my throat. Now, I admit to having a soft spot for our military, but this went far deeper. It was as if God himself whispered to me, "You need not fear anything, for I AM far stronger than these mighty, fighter jets." This verse suddenly came to mind: "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV). The word behold means "to see or to gaze upon." It dawned on me that beholding is connected to thankfulness. If I want to develop a thankful heart, I need to spend time "beholding" God. Simply put, I need to "gaze upon Him." Those fighter jets were so close I could easily behold their power. In much the same way, the closer I get to God, the better I can behold His awesomeness. Friend, are you awestruck by God? By His Word? As my prayer partner often reminds me, we should "glance at our problems, but gaze on God's promises." We need to draw near to God each day. Reflect on the many promises in His Word. When we truly behold His glory, we will find that fear, discouragement, and hopelessness flee. Then our hearts will swell with thankfulness to our glorious Lord!

by Marilynn Chadwick It's hard to be thankful for something you think you deserve. The world is full of people who believe their parents, their schools, or society owe them something. Such was not the case with my friend Becky. She was born with a birth defect that left her just under 4 feet tall. But I forgot about her disability the minute I met her. Becky's face was beautiful—but it was her regal grace, her cheerfulness, and her thankful spirit that I most remember. I have only a dim recollection of her hunched back and deformed legs. Becky's inner strength and trust in the Lord left me wanting to know her secret. I was in my early twenties and a young bride when we first met. Becky was married and well into her forties. She had a thorough knowledge of Scripture and was one of the best Bible teachers I have ever known. As I got to know her better, I learned that Becky's joyful spirit was at least partially due to how her wise parents had raised their disabled daughter. "If my mother and father noticed I didn't seem grateful, or if my attitude became selfish, they'd tell me that I must have too many blessings," she said with a chuckle. "So they'd cut back on gifts and privileges for a while until I showed a little more gratitude for what I had." Becky's words have remained with me all these years later—I can almost hear her gently warning me not to take the blessings of this life for granted. I sometimes wonder if God is anything like Becky's wise and loving parents who refused to encourage self-pity in their disabled daughter? Let's remind ourselves of this powerful encouragement to remain thankful, straight from God's Word. No matter what difficult trials we may be going through, giving thanks honors God and puts us more in touch with His presence. "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).

by Marilynn Chadwick By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6b NIV). How often do you approach your prayer time with a thankful heart? If I'm honest with myself, I often lead with my list of needs without taking time to reflect on the many prayers God has already answered. Paul reminds us that our "prayers and petitions" go hand in hand with a thankful heart. Life without gratitude is barren and thirsty. One way to have a thankful heart is to lower my expectations. This may sound like I'm dialing down my hopes and dreams—but I'm not. I'm simply trying to focus first on God's breathtaking blessings. I want to approach God with a sense of humility rather than entitlement. One Christian author said it well: "You're never thankful for that which you think you deserve." If I think God owes me something, I'll live in a constant state of discontentment. There's a quaint old saying that was often used to express joyful surprise. You may remember it. "Lo and behold!" A person might say, "Lo and behold! There's my cousin Sarah. I haven't seen her in years!" A woman once shared with me how her grandmother helped her understand the meaning of "Lo and behold." I want to share it with you. She said, "Grandma told me that 'Lo and behold' means your expectations are 'low' that what you pray for will actually come true. Then, 'Behold!' it actually happens! All you can do is thank God!" I like her grandma's folksy wisdom. So, I'll continue to dream big and trust God with my fervent prayers and heart's desires. But I will try to keep my expectations "low." And I'll look forward to "beholding" what God will do. The Bible teaches He's a God of wonder and majesty. He is also full of surprises. Beholding His goodness never fails to fill my heart with thankfulness.

by Marilynn Chadwick Willie Myrick is one of my heroes. When he was just ten, Willie was kidnapped by a knife-wielding assailant. The curious youngster had reached down to pick up a ten-dollar bill the kidnapper left as "bait," when suddenly, the man jumped from behind a tree and forced Willie into the car. Speeding across town, the man spewed profanity and threats. The frightened ten-year-old decided to sing his favorite worship song, "Every Praise." When Willie was later asked why he sang this particular song, he answered, "Well, because I knew that Jesus was gonna be with me and he was gonna get me out!" During that ordeal, thanksgiving and praise became Willie's spiritual weapons. Willie continued to sing—for three hours! Finally, the man stopped the car and shoved him out unharmed. Just imagine the faith of this young boy. Instead of dissolving into tears or panic, he worshiped and praised God! Willie's victory over the darkness inspired me to make every effort to respond to worry with praise and thanksgiving. Soon after I read Willie's story, a very troubling situation in our family tempted me to fall into intense fear. Suddenly, an old hymn came to mind. The words to "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" poured forth like a warrior's march. I began to thank God for His power. Sure enough, my fear was broken. What's more, the situation that had worried me so much actually resolved itself. Now when a problem stubbornly persists, I remind myself that young Willie kept singing for three hours before he was released! "Rejoice always," the Bible reminds us. "Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV). Let's dare to form a new habit—thanking God right in the midst of our trials. Praise helps us stand our ground in the face of the enemy. Why not take a lesson from a brave ten-year-old and become people of praise! Adapted from: Marilynn Chadwick, Woman of Valor: Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017).

by Marilynn Chadwick Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2 NIV). Sometimes we move so fast, it's easy to blow past the ordinary blessings God sends each day. Who has time to drink in the magic of the blue sky? Or be thankful for the beauty all around us? And when was the last time you took an extra minute to look into the eyes of your spouse, or children, or friends? The Greek word in the New Testament for thankful, eulogeo, can also be translated "blessing." Eulogeo comes from eu, which means "good," and logeo, which means "to speak." Eulogeo literally means "to speak that which is good." So, a eulogy is how we honor someone with good words of gratitude. When we say a blessing before our meal, it is another way to express thankfulness. I am trying to become more thankful for the ordinary things in life. That's why I'm always on the lookout for practical tips to become more watchful and grateful. Here are some small ways I've discovered to increase my gratitude and reinforce what I refer to as my "thank you habit." On your drive to school or work (or wherever it is that you go each day), why not take the scenic route? Refresh your soul as you give thanks for God's natural beauty. I often travel by way of the lovely tree-lined hill leading to the back roads of our neighborhood instead of the crowded main roads. Find ways to enjoy little breaks throughout your day. Experts recommend about a half hour of sunshine daily to keep up our vitamin D supply. Why not pick a pretty spot and take a book? Or your Bible. Or go for a walk. A friend of mine carves out what she calls "Sabbath moments" every day, usually outdoors. She returns to her work more rested, alert, and thankful. Maintain a daily quitting time. Plan to do something fun with family or friends. Read a good book by an open fire. Take a bubble bath. Stop your work and savor some down time. Remember, rest is God's idea so choose to rest and give Him thanks. Stop multitasking. That was the best piece of advice a counselor gave to my stressed out friend who was seeking help. Easier said than done—especially for busy parents. Try to focus on each person or task with your whole attention, the counselor urged. Then you can take time to truly enjoy every blessing and practice thankfulness. Besides, research shows the value of multi-tasking is an illusion—it's far less efficient than we think. Finally, keep a thank-you journal. List your blessings at the end of each day. Be on the lookout for answers to your prayers and thank God when they happen. How many little blessings do you simply miss because you are speeding through life?

by Marilynn Chadwick I've learned that God often shows up strongest when I am weak or afraid. But if I will trust him and step out in faith, I'm likely to discover a new dimension of his goodness. Or as a friend of mine once said, we experience God's power when we step beyond our capacity and into our calling. On my first mission trip to Africa, God reminded me that he can be trusted to lead and guide us. This is a story that happened many years ago and tells of an opportunity I almost refused. And no wonder. It was the early 1990s. Ethiopia had just gone through a bloody civil war in which revolutionary freedom fighters had finally overthrown the Communist government. Christians had been cruelly persecuted during their seventeen-year regime. The country was still not considered safe for travelers. David and I had friends who served as missionaries in Ethiopia. We were invited by SIM, their missions organization, to speak at the first Christian gathering since the Communist takeover of Ethiopia in 1974. Many missionaries vividly remembered the last gathering where local leaders had been arrested by the Soviet-backed forces. They were imprisoned and tortured for their faith. At last, after decades of oppression, Ethiopia was finally free! During our time there, one missionary and I became immediate friends. I'll call her "Gloria." Gloria was fun, stylish, and always joyful. She often laughed even when she was talking. Gloria and her husband had raised their four amazing, now adult, children in Ethiopia. This was decades before cell phones or the internet allowed families to communicate with one another when separated by distance. Missionary children often attended boarding schools several hours away. Gloria had endured hard places, but through God's grace, she and her family had flourished in this far away land. Gloria confided with me how once, in the early years of their assignment, she nearly hit rock bottom. The heat, the isolation and loneliness, the pests (including snakes), the scant medical care, along with worries about her children, came crashing over her. Discouragement threatened to overwhelm Gloria when one day, she happened to notice a framed needlepoint picture in a fellow missionary's home. On it were three simple words: "Try Giving Thanks." Try giving thanks. It became Gloria's "nuclear" weapon when she faced her most intense battles. She shared story after story of how God had miraculously come through during her toughest trials. I was inspired by Gloria to make giving thanks my "go to" strategy when facing my own stubborn problems. Time and again, I have discovered the power of that simple yet powerful prescription to drive away the darkness. Try. Giving. Thanks. Our most powerful faith lessons often come through struggles. Trials challenge us to trust God more. To remain open to His plans—even if those plans look scary or out of our control. Over the next several days, we'll look at the remarkable power of thankfulness to alter any situation and turn even our darkest trials into opportunities to trust God. To thank Him. In this way, our problems become the fuel for praise.

by Marilynn Chadwick We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Do you hunger to make a difference in this world? Even children yearn to discover their purpose. My husband's father, the late Dr. Howard Chadwick, served God faithfully as a minister for over seventy years. He used to encourage our three children to search wholeheartedly for their life's calling. "Look around you at the needs you see in the world," he would tell them. "Then take an honest look at your gifts and talents. Your calling may be found where those two intersect." Put another way, where is your "holy discontent?" If the wonderful blessings of learning to hear God's voice, draw near to Him in prayer, and claim the promises of His Word extend no further than our own little world, then so what? I am convinced God's amazing blessings during this prayer journey are so that I will be His hands and feet in this hurting and broken world. Therefore, I constantly ask myself: Is my life a so what? or a so that? Just think. God has created you and given you a purpose. He's hardwired into you the necessary gifts and talents to fulfill your calling. I challenge you to pray the prayer God always answers: "God, break my heart for what breaks Yours." Then watch God begin to stir your heart. Lord, how should I pray? What can I give? Where do You want me to go? Start with your own family and neighbors. Next, move beyond your comfort zone. Look for needs within your community. Visit a local school. Become a reading buddy for a child. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter. Better yet, gather a small group and serve together. If you ask God, He will show you where to begin. Why not ask God to burden your heart for a nation that needs your prayers. Pray for their people and leaders. Pray for believers, especially those being persecuted. Research ways to contribute financially. Ask God to make that country "come alive" for you and watch what happens as you pray. My story is filled with places I've traveled and people I've grown to love ever since I began asking God to show me who was on His heart. We live in dark times. But the harvest is plentiful! God wants to use you. Your prayers matter. Be alert. Be the answer. Who knows what adventures await when you listen to God's voice and answer His call.

by Marilynn Chadwick When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven" (Luke 5:20). What does it look like to "always be ready" to bring a friend to Jesus? We all have times in life when we must lean on the help of our friends. It was one of those times for the paralytic in Luke 5. We don't know the man's ailment. We do know he was helpless and unable to get to Jesus by himself. A few friends boldly carried him on a mat to see the Master. Their way was blocked by the crowds. So they climbed on the roof, hauled up their sick buddy, and lowered him through a hole they cut in the roof—right in front of Jesus! Instead of rebuking them, Jesus (perhaps with a slight smile) commended their faith. Right then and there, he healed their friend. Let's reflect on this remarkable scenario a little further: And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven" (Luke 5:17-20). Notice that when Jesus saw the faith of the sick man's friends, he forgave the man's sins and healed his infirmity! What was it about the faith of those few friends that ignited the miracle? Their persistence? Audacity? Willingness to step outside the customary bounds? Or just maybe it was their love for their dear friend. I wonder if they had suffered with him. Prayed for him. Refused to give up on him. They did whatever it took to get him to Jesus. Above all, they believed in the power of Jesus to set their friend free. They were true intercessors. Years ago, I had a friend who wrestled with a cruel and long-standing addiction. Complicated by a history of childhood abuse and a host of serious medical problems, she reached the point of exhaustion and hopelessness. She considered ending her life. But into the picture stepped a few good friends. Together, they did battle. They found a place of recovery for our friend and even provided the means to get there. And how they prayed! This little team of friends demonstrated the power of persistent prayer and love in action. It was as if they "carved a hole in the roof" to place their friend at the feet of Jesus. Isn't this our calling as believers—to be vessels of the same mercy we've received from the Lord? It was Jesus himself who reminded us there is no greater love than to "lay down our life for our friends." I'll leave you with my favorite definition of mercy: Mercy is the willingness to enter the chaos of another person's life. Let's pray for the Lord to empower us to be ready and willing to become vessels of mercy for our friends—even if it means stepping into some chaos.

I was in a hurry and needed to grab lunch before my next meeting. I passed a Burger King on a nearby corner. I had been trying to avoid fried foods and hadn't eaten fast-food in ages. Well, nothing like a Whopper and a Diet Coke! I got my order and pulled over to a shady area to quickly eat the burger before my meeting. That's when I saw her. A nicely dressed older woman shuffling slowly along the sidewalk pushing her chair. It wasn't a wheelchair exactly—more of a combination walker/chair with small wheels. She slowly made her way into the parking lot and settled under the shade of a nearby tree. She got comfortable in her spot and began reading a book. I quickly downed the rest of my Whopper. But as I was preparing to leave, I glanced over at the woman. The thought quietly came to me—I wonder if she's hungry? I sensed the Lord's nudge. "Give her the $20 bill in your wallet." Cars were whizzing by in the drive thru line. How could I get to her? I prayed, "Lord, if you want me to give her this $20, you'll have to calm this traffic down. Suddenly there was a lull. I had a clear path, so I hopped out of my car and walked over to where the woman was seated. I didn't want to embarrass her. But I needn't have worried when I saw her calm dignity and alert smile. "Maybe you can use this for a meal," I said quietly, handing her the $20 and pausing to look into her eyes. "I think the Lord just whispered to me to give it to you," I kind of shrugged and smiled...then pointed heavenward. "Oh yes," she smiled back. "I know how God works. And I know all about listening to His voice." Then she sort of winked. "And trust me" she added, "I know faith makes things happen." My window was still rolled down as I slowly drove out of the parking lot. Suddenly, I overheard her strong voice in prayer, "Father God, I knew You would come through for me. I just KNEW You could do this. Thank you, Father God! Thank you!" She didn't know I heard her prayer, or that I saw her raise her hands and tap her feet in childlike praise. This moment was between her and the Lord. I was just thankful to be an eavesdropper on their conversation. And I'll always remember the unexpectedly beautiful moment that blessed us both at Burger King. A few ways to "always be ready:" Become familiar with the Lord's voice through prayer and reading His Word. When the Holy Spirit speaks, follow His prompting. Pray for guidance. Be prepared with cash or gift cards to use as the Lord nudges you.

by Marilynn Chadwick Years ago, a conversation with a good friend challenged me to realize how complacent I'd become in sharing the Good News about Jesus. My friend and I happened to be talking about our involvement in church and how meaningful it was for us both. I shared how my current life was so different from those years when I had walked away from the Lord. As a bit of background, I had made a conscious decision to leave God and church behind at age fifteen. "God, I don't think you're real," I said, "but if I ever find out you exist, I will follow you." At 21, I happened to read C. S. Lewis's powerful apologetic, Mere Christianity, and accepted Jesus. Soon after, I met and married David and we've enjoyed 45 years of life and ministry together. I continued to reflect on how my daily life, once surrounded by unbelievers, was now filled with mostly believers. My doctor, my dentist, even my hairdresser were all Christians. Plus, I hardly ever came in contact with anyone who didn't know Jesus. "How did that happen?" I wondered aloud. It was what my friend said next that jolted me out of my comfort zone. "Oh, that's my life, too," she said emphatically. "I've worked very hard to get it that way and I plan to keep things that way." Suddenly I was reminded of Jesus's parting words to his disciples after his resurrection. He told them to go out into the world and "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). Just before his ascension to heaven, he challenged his followers: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). It seems I wasn't alone in my neglect of the Great Commission. One researcher discovered the majority of Christians have never led anyone to Christ. Even more troubling, most believers do not have a specific person for whom they are praying for salvation. I began to make practical changes. I looked for opportunities to form friendships in our neighborhood. I started a small group Bible Study with "outsiders." I began volunteering in communities beyond my own and eventually traveled with David to some very broken places in the world. But I made simple changes too, like striking up conversations. Anything to shake up my routine. I saw God answer prayers in amazing and specific ways. Begin now to pray specifically for God to open doors. Then be ready. Keep a few Christian books or easy to read Bible translations on hand. The pastor who put Mere Christianity into my hands will never know until Heaven the power of his single act of obedience. The book sat on my shelf for a couple years before the Lord prompted me, in His timing, to read it! My life has never been the same. Get comfortable with a few ways to explain salvation. Always be ready to share your own story. Start simple and begin to pray specifically for someone in your sphere. As David reminds us, we're in sales, God is in management. But I encourage you today to step out of your place of comfort and get ready for adventure!

by Marilynn Chadwick Always be ready to give an account for the hope that is within you (1 Peter 3:15). What does it mean to always be ready? During our nation's Revolutionary War, the Minutemen—highly disciplined militia forces made up of ordinary farmers—had to be dressed and ready for battle in less than one minute. Thus, the name, "Minutemen." As believers, we're to be dressed and prepared for battle. But our warfare is against the forces of darkness. Our battle is to win the souls of people. Just like the Minutemen, we must be well trained, alert, and always ready. But let's remember: It all begins with prayer. Every great move of God began with prayer. Who has God put on your heart? If we have prayed for a friend, it shouldn't surprise us to discover that the Holy Spirit has been preparing them in advance to hear the Word of truth. The right moment to share the love of Jesus with them could happen any time. Anywhere. Years ago, our family befriended a professional basketball player from the Czech Republic (now Chechenia). David was chaplain for the Charlotte Hornets, and we got to know some of the players. What a thrill this was for our children. One player whom I'll call Vlad was a special favorite. His girlfriend, whom I'll call Katarina, was a lovely young woman, an attorney by profession. Both Vlad and Katarina had been raised atheists in the former Soviet bloc country then known as Czechoslovakia. They were hard core unbelievers—or so I thought. Katarina and I became friends. She was surprisingly open to talking about God, never shy about her doubts and questions. It might take God a really long time to reach this young woman, I realized, so all I could do was pray for her. That and be a listening friend. The time came for Vlad and Katarina to return to their homeland. She and I decided to grab a quick goodbye lunch. Katarina insisted on going to McDonald's—a treat she had only recently discovered in the US! As we finished our meal, I sensed Katarina was softening. She asked, "What does a person need to do to "be saved?" I gently explained that all one needed to do to be saved was to "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31). I explained how Christ's death and resurrection brought total forgiveness for all her sin. Trying to be respectful and patient, I added, "I realize you may want some time to reflect on what I've just shared...maybe when you get home." "Why can't I do this now?" she suddenly blurted out. Seriously. Here in McDonalds?? So I walked Katarina through a simple prayer of salvation. I'm not sure we even closed our eyes. There happened to be a Christian bookstore next door where I bought her first Bible and a devotional book. Her face radiated new peace and joy. Since then, I've prayed for Katarina. And I've never forgotten this lesson: It's important to always be ready whenever and wherever God calls you to share His Good News.

We have taken this week to look at the importance of always being ready as followers of Jesus. The word "ready" is defined as "easily available or obtained; fully prepared; in a suitable state for an activity, action, or situation." As representatives and ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven, we are to be fully prepared at any point to share the good news of Jesus with others. So far, I've talked to you about how to learn to hear God's voice. Pray for open doors. Strengthen your discernment. Put the shoes of the gospel of peace on your feet. When the Spirit prompts you to go share the gospel, what is the one great way you can do so that can never be refuted? Share your story. Talk about how you came to know Jesus. How he has changed your life. What miracles you have experienced with him. The impact of your life upon others. People can try to argue different issues of the faith. But they cannot debate your story. Your experiences. What Jesus did for you personally. Much like the blind man in John 9, your testimony holds power. The religious leaders tried to get the blind man to explain what had happened to him. They wanted to know how and why the miracle happened. Where the man was who healed him. The blind man looked at them and said he did not know the answers to all of their questions. All he knew was that once he was blind, but now he could see. The same principles apply to you and me, too! You don't have to have all of the answers. No one does. Simply share your story and what Jesus has done for you. How he has changed your life. As I told you earlier this week, remember that God's in management. It is HIS job to draw people unto himself. But it's your job to share.

We must always be ready to share the gospel. 2 Timothy 4:2a says to "be ready in season and out of season." We need to learn to hear the voice of God, pray for open doors, walk in discernment, and put on the shoes of peace! In Ephesians 6, Paul talks about the armor of God. He knew that this armor is an imperative part of learning to stand against the darkness of the evil one. Ephesians 6:15 says we are to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace to remain ready! What does this verse mean? It means that the gospel that brings peace to us is needed by others as well. Therefore, we should always be ready to share the gospel! Practically, shoes are needed both for mobility and stability. Think of an athlete trying to play a game in his socks. Or a soldier fighting with no shoes on. They will most certainly lose. When your shoes are on, you will have the readiness needed to move swiftly and quickly to share the gospel with others when prompted to do so by the Spirit. Mobile. Agile. Ready. The shoes of the gospel of peace will also allow you to stand firm and remain steadfast against the evil one who wants to put us all on our backsides. They keep us strong. Stable. Grounded. With your shoes on, you will have the readiness needed to move and go share the gospel with others when prompted by the Spirit. Every day, put on the full armor of God. It gives you tools to resist the devil. But especially make sure you remember your shoes - putting on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Always be ready. To hear God's voice. To respond to open doors that he puts before you. To walk in discernment, distinguishing good from evil. And to put on the shoes of peace so that you will be able to move and to share what you have received with others.

Always be ready. It's one of the biblical mandates for God's people. This week we are looking at different ways to always be ready. First, we must learn to hear God's voice. Secondly, we must pray for open doors to share the Gospel and then partner with God to touch the world. Third, we must grow in our discernment. Learning to discern and distinguish good from evil is very important. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" In other words, not every voice is from God! For example, in the life of Paul, there were times where the devil hindered him from going places. But other times, it was the Spirit who prevented him from moving forward. Paul had to discern whether a situation was from the enemy or from the Spirit. Doing so, allowed him to go where God truly wanted him to go. Specifically when it comes to sharing your faith, you are going to run into resistance. As you do, start learning to discern if it's the devil or the Spirit. If it's the devil, keep trying. Keep sharing. Persist. He will eventually be defeated. If it's the Spirit trying to take you in a different direction, be sensitive to his voice. Maybe he has a different strategy for you to reach that person. Or maybe the resistance is so severe that it's time to knock the dust off your shoes and move on. Jesus explains this in Matthew 10:13-15. "And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town." If you end up having to walk away, continue to stay ready! Watch as the Spirit leads you to someone else who needs to hear the good news of Jesus.

We must always be ready. In fact, 2 Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." But how do we stay ready to share the gospel of Jesus and be available to whatever he needs us to do? We are taking this week to look at what we can do as followers of Jesus to always be ready. Yesterday we talked about learning to hear God's voice. Today's tip is this: pray for open doors. Colossians 4:2-4 says, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison – that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." We must be diligent to pray that God would open doors for us to share and reveal the message of Jesus with others. In your workplace. In your neighborhood. With your friends and family. Jesus's message is powerful. Contending in prayer for opportunities to release this message is just as important as releasing it. You will know when God opens a door. Someone may ask you about why you're so joyful. Or why you are full of faith when everything is scary. When you follow Jesus, people see something different in you. God, Yahweh, the Father, the Creator of the universe designed us to be partners and co-heirs with him. He sent Jesus to bring us back into relationship with him so that we can actively participate in helping him reveal the kingdom of heaven on earth until Jesus returns. It is not a passive salvation. The moment of salvation is simply the entry point to a lifetime of partnership. Always be ready. Learn to hear his voice. Pray for open doors. Then stand ready WHEN the doors open because they will!

Always be ready. Jesus is coming back for his bride. We do not know when he will return, but we are called to be ready for his return (Mark 13:32). And as we wait, we are also to be ready each and every day to give a reason for the hope that we have found in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15) – to share his gospel with the world. When I was playing basketball at UNC, we were taught to always stay ready for the ball. Alert. On guard. Hands lifted up. Prepared if the point guard decided to pass the ball. Poised and alert for a teammate who might decide to throw a "no look pass" in your direction. We must be ready as followers of Jesus. But how do we do this? The key: learn to hear the voice of God. Jesus says in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Did you know that God wants to speak to you? Can you hear his voice? His voice is not always audible. Although sometimes it may be. Have you ever felt a prompting in your heart to go to someone and pray for them? Maybe you have had someone's face come to your mind's eye continually in prayer? Ever heard the whisper of a name while praying? Learn to be obedient to what you're sensing if it is, in fact, the Lord. Maybe you need to give a financial gift to someone in need. Or maybe you need to go to that person and share the gospel. As a side note, here is a simple way to remember the gospel of Jesus so you can share him with others. It's as easy as A-B-C. Admit you are a sinner. Believe in Jesus's life, death and resurrection as the forgiveness for your sins. Come to Jesus and make him Lord of your life. Remember, we are in sales. God is in management. We are to be faithful to spend time with him, learning to hear his voice and be obedient. Leave the outcomes to him. Practice hearing his voice. It is a crucial part of learning how to always be ready.