The immense rewards of wisdom make pursuing it well worth the effort. Proverbs 2:1-7 Knowledge may be a prized commodity in the world, but what the Lord values is wisdom ( Proverbs 8:11 ). He wants us to see life from His viewpoint and evaluate everything according to biblical principles.  So how do we gain wisdom? The obvious answer is that we must pursue it. Too often, however, people who say they want to be wise do little to actually make that happen.  The first place to look for wisdom is the Bible. There, we are told to pay attention to God’s life-giving words and hold His commands in our heart ( Proverbs 4:20-22 ). Another source of wisdom is the counsel of godly men and women ( Proverbs 12:15 ); God brings fellow believers into our life to offer biblical advice, encouragement, or reproof. In fact, according to that same verse, those who ignore the words of a righteous person are labeled “fool.” So surround yourself with other followers of Christ who pursue what the Lord values. 

  Don't underestimate the impact of your faithfulness on future generations. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 The apostle Paul often wrote about perseverance. If anyone demonstrated endurance, it was Paul. He urged believers not to tire of following Christ, even when persecuted. He’d been beaten, stoned, whipped, driven out of town, shipwrecked, reviled, and abandoned. Despite having a thousand reasons to be disheartened, he knew his obedience to God wasn’t in vain.  Consider the awesome harvest that resulted from the apostle’s faithfulness. The gospel spread across the Roman Empire, and the early church grew far beyond the Jewish world. What’s more, the seeds Paul planted by writing his epistles have resulted in billions of lives being transformed. And to think that any strength or insight we draw from these letters is fruit of the hardships he endured!  Do you realize how impactful your life is? Don’t be deceived by Satan’s lie that your suffering or obedience will amount to nothing. Your fa

  If Christ came to bring healing, then why does it seem so elusive? Charity Singleton Craig   January 29, 2023 “So, how long do you think I’m going to be here?” I asked the physical therapist who were evaluating me. The night before, I’d been admitted to the rehabilitation facility after spending eight days in the hospital with a rare autoimmune condition called transverse myelitis. At one point in my hospitalization, I had been completely paralyzed from the neck down, due to swelling in my spine. I arrived at rehab having regained the use of my arms but not my legs. Not only had no one told me how long I would be hospitalized; I wasn’t even sure if I would walk again. Illustration by Adam Cruft “Well, to be honest, you have only trace movement in your legs. I think you may be here about eight weeks. And even then, I think there’s a good chance you’ll be going home in a wheelchair,” she said. Tears welled up in my eyes. I swallowed over and over, trying to get the lump in my throat to