Rick Thomas | Your Daily Drive

Your Christian friend is struggling and seemingly cannot change. Something has caught them (Galatian 6:1-2). Do you believe your friend can change? Perhaps that person is your spouse, child, or parent. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-believe-a-sinning-christian-can-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most important responsibilities a man will ever have is the discipleship care of his wife. Apart from his affections for Christ and the attention that he provides for his soul, he does not have a more significant privilege. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-disciple-your-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It is possible to be a Christian and struggle with personal problems. Distinguishing between struggling believers versus unbelievers who wrestle with similar issues is critical. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-become-a-believing-believer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of our members asked me about a worldview on having fun. She wondered if she was supposed to have fun, and she expressed how there seems to be an element of mystery about what fun should look like for a Christian. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-christians-supposed-to-have-fun/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

An individual characterized by worry is a person who is uncertain if God will get things right. Not only is the worrier unsure as to whether God will get it right, but the worrier will typically take matters into their own hands. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/will-god-get-it-right-the-accusation-of-the-worrier-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Member Question – I have a friend that I believe needs to make some changes in his life. How should I let him know what I am thinking? He is not sinning, but I believe he is making some unwise choices. If he changes, I think it would be much better for him. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-i-say-something-about-someone-who-is-messing-up/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Recently, I posted a case study about honoring parents when you are married. This idea is a common question that counselors have asked me, hence the case study. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-i-honor-my-parents-or-obey-my-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Parenting is challenging for every family, but it does not have to be an unresolvable puzzle. The Bible is full of information that can help any parent as they cooperate with God in this leadership opportunity. I’m going to share with you some of those tips with you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/parenting-tip-stick-to-the-basics/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Being a believer does not keep sin from trying to capture you. Regeneration is the way to heaven, but you need more to live victoriously while on earth. Learning how to appropriate the gospel to your sanctification is vital for you to live well in God’s world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-solid-tips-that-will-change-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It seems that nearly every person who becomes a believer and then walks away from their faith or away from the church does so because of disillusionment or disappointment. The simple response is to say that they never believed God, but that response lacks nuance that dismisses rigorous reflection and more effective soul care. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-i-do-not-believe-in-god-any-longer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A person's experience can be so powerful and painful that it discolors how they see life, even how they interpret God's Word. Being blind to your blindness is the worst kind of blindness, which is where the feminist culture is today. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-am-woman-hear-me-roar-thoughts-on-christian-feminism/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a gap between who we are and who Jesus is calling us to be. And you’re working hard to close that gap, or it’s widening. It never stays the same. The issue is not so much about the “imposter” that is in you, but what are you doing about it? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/confession-of-an-imposter-how-to-close-the-gap-between-who-i-am-and-who-i-should-be/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a temptation with all of us to keep certain things hidden from others. Our high sense of shame and self-awareness tempts us from the purpose of the gospel, which is transformation in a community of grace. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/secret-keeping-destroys-lives-and-relationships/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

You cannot create unity from disunity. "Kind begets kind," as the King James Bible tells us. What goes in will come out. If disunity is what is in your marriage, disunity is what will come out of it Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-best-thing-some-parents-can-do-is-stop-parenting/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes the Lord puts you in situations that humble you. Other times it's your decisions that put there, but either way, it's critical to learn from these moments. The humbled heart is a grateful heart. How are your struggles teaching you a humility that leads to compassion for others? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/some-days-you-feel-like-a-counselee/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

"Trust God" is an overused cliché that some folks often scorn as over-simplistic counseling advice that can, at times, come across as harsh or uncaring. Then again, to trust God is our greatest challenge as well as our greatest need. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-reasons-our-god-is-not-able-to-help-us-in-our-time-of-need/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the more interesting observations I have made from years of counseling is how little I teach people about the truth of God’s Word versus how much time I spend helping them apply the truth of God’s Word. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/too-much-truth-can-keep-you-from-the-truth-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What would you do if you had the opportunity to get even with someone who hurt you? What if the hurt was irrevocable? What they did to you changed you forever? What would you do? Would you want revenge? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/revenge-when-evil-comes-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When my daughter was eleven-years old, she asked, “If you do something wrong, are you still a Christian?” It was one of those “can you lose your salvation” questions. She asked it during a time when other things were going on, so I did not take the time to talk to her about it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-discussion-with-daddy-and-daughter-about-justification-and-sanctification/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

How can a good and loving God allow such a horrific event in my life? It’s a valid question. If you have not asked some version of this question, you have lived a charmed life, or you have a faith that all Christians desire. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/sometimes-god-has-to-make-you-do-things-you-dont-want-to-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

God’s Word is perfect for helping non-Christians. Learning how to use it to serve unbelievers is critical to your evangelistic efforts. Here are a few ideas to assist you in bringing God’s Word to bear on those who do not know Jesus. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/can-you-counsel-non-christians-with-gods-word/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The most effective way to know if you can live out biblical love is when you find yourself in a relational context in which you are disappointed by someone. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-hurt-me-so-i-dont-love-you-anymore/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

God’s grace is sufficient. God can change anyone. The Spirit can empower a person to change. God’s Word is sufficient. So why do some people not change? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-think-about-and-respond-to-someone-who-wont-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Competent discipleship starts with your engagement of God on behalf of the person you're helping and then communicating in faith what you believe the Lord wants you to share with that individual. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/discipleship-is-mostly-about-prayer-and-prophecy/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If you are discipling someone, I’d like for you to share this article with them. You will not find better counseling advice than what I'm going to share. I have also included a few assessment questions that will help you to care for them more effectively. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-simplest-counseling-advice-youll-ever-receive/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Which is more important to you? To receive a leader's attention or receive their care? What if you turned the question around and looked at it from your leader’s perspective? "What is possible: to give each person all your attention or to give them your care?" Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-want-my-attention-or-my-care-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

During the IABC National Conference, I saw a creature slithering around the conference area, and since I had my mics set up for recording, I snagged him for this brief interview. If you're interested in my friend doing voiceover work for you, contact us at [email protected] Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Receiving counseling can be a good idea, which is one reason that we provide it with our ministry. But if you place the weight of your long-term change on a brief season of counseling, you will be sorely disappointed. Counseling office success should never shoulder the primary responsibility of transformation for anyone. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-not-the-best-option-if-you-want-to-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

How you listen and respond to someone will determine the kind of help you provide. Everybody does not problem-solve biblically, and you must know how to come alongside the hurting so you can bring the best care to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/is-it-necessary-to-use-biblical-categories-to-problem-solve/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Does your wife show concern about what you do? Does she check up on you? Is she mostly aware or unaware of your thoughts and activities? Which of the following three categories best describe your wife’s attention to the details of your life? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/there-is-a-blessing-to-be-found-in-an-unconcerned-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Divorce is the worse thing that can happen in a marriage because it never ends. Death is final, but divorce has another life. And in that life, the ex-spouse can continue to complicate matters, which in many cases has something to do with the children. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I had a conversation with two counselees, and the issue of lying came up. I mentioned to them that telling falsehoods is a regular part of my profession. It was a sad, but true statement. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-a-lying-profession/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Being married and being a Christian does not automatically mean you will connect and relate to your spouse at the most secret part of your soul, which is your intimate knowledge of and experience with God. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/cant-tell-spouse-everything-im-thinking/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A counselee asked why I won’t counsel another way. She discerned a death feel to my counseling, and she was struggling. Though she does not disagree with my counseling approach, she did feel compelled to share her internal angst with me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/rick-why-wont-you-counsel-another-way/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Individuals within every group are guilty of making every person within a specific demographic or category the same. E.g., all whites are the same. All blacks are the same. All right is alt-right and all left is alt-left. It just is not true. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/let-tell-white-privilege/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

To understand someone effectively, you have to listen on two levels. You listen to what they are saying, and you must listen at the heart level. There are two reasons you want to do this. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-good-listener-listens-on-two-levels-are-you-a-good-listener/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The question is, “Do I need to be certified to be a counselor?” The answer is, “No, not necessarily. You are already certified.” Let me explain, speaking from a Christian worldview. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-i-need-to-be-certified-to-be-a-counselor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A desire to be understood can create a false continuum with some individuals. It happens this way: a person is so impressed with how someone understands them that they accept their solution for their problem without reservation. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/have-you-fallen-for-the-being-understood-trap/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Homosexuality is one of the more sensitive issues today, which should cause heightened awareness for Christians to guard their attitudes regarding how we respond to this problem. Following Paul's advice would be wise when it comes to interacting with the gay culture. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-gay-guy-said-i-was-born-this-way/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

As long as there is a sin, there will be divorce. Sin divides, and one of the places where it enjoys carving up relationships is the marriage bond. You could argue that divorcing is at the “head of the class” when cobbled together with all our other cultural blemishes. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-33-are-children-better-off-with-divorced-parents/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Leading your family should not be a mystery because God has given to us everything that we need for life and godliness. For most Christians, the issue is not a lack of knowledge but an unwillingness to apply the information that they already know. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-fallout-of-fatherlessness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What do McDonald’s, Walmart, your local high school, Christian school, any back alley, and your church facility have in common? I suppose there are several ways to answer this question. How about this? You can “make out” or smoke weed in any of those contexts. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-upside-to-smoking-weed-and-making-out-at-your-local-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical counseling has a place in our community, and as long as we keep it in its place while elevating a better "means of grace" for people to change, we will see more people changing. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-not-the-best-context-for-longterm-effectual-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When someone hurts you, the natural thing is to run from it. No person should submit to abuse. The danger is that we can run into another kind of trouble. This marriage storyboard walks you through this predicament. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/storyboarding-marriage-from-dysfunction-to-restoration/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Our culture is quite clear: the path to success is through education. No doubt, becoming smarter is essential, but academic equipping is not the most important thing according to God's Word. For all of you students who did not make all A's this year, I want to encourage your heart and refocus your priorities. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/striving-for-character-is-better-than-making-as/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical shame is genuine. It was one of the first things that happened to Adam after he sinned against the Lord. His response to shame was to grab a few fig leaves, which began a cover-up process that we all emulate. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/shame-i-dont-want-anyone-to-know-whats-happening/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Divorce is an awful experience. It is one of the more dreadful events a person could ever have, especially if the person going through the divorce doesn't want it and is unsure how to proceed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-divorce-well/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The phone rang. Lucia picked it up but did not answer the caller. She handed it to me because she knew two things: It was probably about work, and my profession was more important than her and the children. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

In some relationships, the communication is more about winning and losing rather than understanding each other. Guarding hearts and harnessing tongues is hard. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/competitive-communication-winning-is-all-that-matters/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A proactive plan to care for others assumes that you care for and love people. If you don't love people, your starting point is repentance. But if you do count others more significant than yourself, here are some helpful thoughts to motivate you to care for them well. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/a-proactive-plan-to-care-for-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/