goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Good Life

By Linda Tancs

How often do you think of the good life as one marked by things like a nice house, fancy car or expensive vacations? It’s arguably not as often that the “good life” is thought of as one well lived, marked by kindness toward others, charity and community service. But how you live is just as important as what you achieve—even more so, in fact.

Is your life grounded in the things of this world or in God (Joshua 24:15)? The good life is even better than you think when you center it around God.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Learn more at goforwardinfaith.com. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

 

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

True North

By Linda Tancs

Did you know that the North Star (also known as Polaris) holds nearly still in our sky while the entire northern sky moves around it? It’s been used for centuries as a navigational tool because it marks the way true north, located nearly at the north celestial pole around which the entire northern sky turns.

We often hear about folks trying to find their “true north.” It’s popularly thought of as your own internal compass, the point around which you define yourself at your deepest level. Being unique individuals, you’re going to end up with many variants of true north. But just as there’s only one Polaris, there is only one Truth (John 14:6; Psalm 119:160). Let it be your fixed point in this spinning world.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Learn more at goforwardinfaith.com. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

 

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Wait for It

By Linda Tancs

“Wait for it” is an expression used to show that you are about to say something surprising, funny or difficult to believe. God uses it in a different way, exhorting his prophet Habakkuk to wait for the answers that the prophet seeks. God reminds Habakkuk that the answer will come at the appointed time. God is never late (Habakkuk 2:3).

What are you waiting on? A new home? A different career? Improved family life? Can you learn to wait, like Habakkuk? Will you recognize the answer when it comes? We often forget that, sometimes, the answer to prayer is “no.” Ask God to help you not only recognize when the appointed time has come but also to accept the response.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Learn more at goforwardinfaith.com. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Let the Darlings Go

By Linda Tancs

In the world of fiction writing, an oft-used expression is “kill your darlings.” It generally means to delete any aspect of your story that, notwithstanding your fondness of it, does not advance the narrative. It’s an agonizing process, particularly if you’ve grown attached to a certain plot twist, character quirk or whatever the case may be.

You may not be a writer, but you undoubtedly have darlings of your own that do not advance the narrative of your life. Maybe you can’t let go of a friend’s broken promise or a colleague’s betrayal. Do you feed on 40-year-old regrets like a hungry child? Is there too much focus on your backstory and not enough forward action? That’s like a book that no one would want to read. Throw out the script that’s hindering you and move forward (Hebrews 12:1; Ecclesiastes 3:6).

It’s time to let your darlings go. Improve your story.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Learn more at goforwardinfaith.com. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Last One Standing

By Linda Tancs

Do you know what it’s like to be “the last one standing?” Sometimes, it might connote something victorious, like winning on the Survivor reality show. Or, if you’re like me, it means being picked last in gym class, which was tantamount to not being chosen at all.

Rejection hurts. Joseph (Barsabbas) knew the feeling. He was a contender for the role of replacement apostle after Judas’s betrayal, but Matthias got selected instead (Acts 1:23-26). And, of course, no one knew rejection better than Jesus. But the fact remains that you’ll never be chosen last by God (Psalm 94:14). People may offer rejection, but God always offers acceptance. His opinion matters more; let His offer of acceptance create an atmosphere for you to thrive in the way that He’s called you.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

In Sync

By Linda Tancs

The belief that all things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28) is a recognition of Divine order. It’s an abdication of the need to know how things will work out (Proverbs 3:5). Instead, it’s an acknowledgment that things will work out. All things. Not some things or even most things. God is the ultimate timekeeper, syncing all the times of your life into a harmonious whole. You can probably look at some circumstances already and see how it worked out for the best. God’s not done yet.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

More Than a Conqueror

By Linda Tancs

There’s no shortage of famous conquerors in world history, like Napoleon—renowned for his strategy and command of the battlefields of war (until Waterloo, that is). For most of us, there’s a different battle brewing. It’s in the mind, where nagging thoughts often plague and condemn us that we’re not where we need to be, not up to the task, not able to navigate life successfully, and so on. When the mind wages war we need to remember that we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). What does it mean to be “more than a conqueror?” It means that, unlike Napoleon, there is no battle and, therefore, no need to conquer. We’ve already won. Through Christ, we are ready for anything and equal to anything that comes up in life (Philippians 4:13). Victory is assured; you needn’t worry about meeting your Waterloo.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

What’s In a Name?

By Linda Tancs

In Hollywood, every producer wants to cast a movie with a “bankable” name. Likewise, in other fields, big names garner authority and leverage.

The Bible, too, has its share of heavyweights among God’s people, like Abraham, Moses, Job, David and Daniel. But just as noteworthy are the unnamed—anonymous people, even outsiders, immortalized for their deeds in the service of God and his kingdom. Consider, for instance, Jesus’s encounter with the woman at the well. She’d had many men in her life and, worse yet, was a Samaritan engaging in conversation with a Jew. Jesus’s gentle correction of her sinful ways and His mere knowledge of her past had her undone in a matter of minutes. Despite her bad reputation and limited knowledge of the Messiah, she drew many in her town to the Gospel (John 4), making her one of the most unlikely evangelists in human history. Just before Jesus’s death, another unnamed heroine mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels anoints Him with expensive oil while He is dining with his apostles. Although the apostles are indignant at this display and intrusion, Jesus remarks that what she has done will be told in memory of her whenever the Gospel is preached (Matthew 26:7-13).

You don’t have to have a big name to make a big difference.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Sweet Surrender

By Linda Tancs

Waving the white flag. It’s an action many a child undertakes when engaging in a fake war on the playground or in the backyard. It’s a sign of surrender, giving up all rights to the opposing force. Surrendering to God is like that. God has a plan for our lives, and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans in favor of His—the better plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

Romans 6:13 says that God demands that you surrender all of yourself; we don’t get to reserve a portion of our life for our own ends, a little corner dedicated to our career interests, ambitions, life goals or luxury goods. Indeed, Jesus said that His followers must deny themselves (Mark 8:34). That’s a complete call to surrender.

Surrendering to the Lord is sweet. It is, like the songwriter John Denver wrote, a life without care. Like a fish in the water. Like a bird in the air. Their needs don’t escape the Lord’s notice. And yours don’t, either (Matthew 6:25-34).

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Be Inspired, Not Tired

By Linda Tancs

How energized are you? Do you feel like the tortoise—or the hare? If your answer is the tortoise, know that you’re in good company. Recent studies show that, among other factors, stress and social media are taking a toll on energy levels. It’s disheartening, especially considering that Scripture exhorts us to begin each day with zeal and enthusiasm (Romans 12:11).

So how do you put some zest back into life? For starters, it doesn’t hurt to get inspired. As the literary figure Goethe allegedly said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.” What are you dreaming about? What did you dream about as a kid? What do other people think you’re good at? Do you have a hobby? Another tactic for zeal is gratitude, something encouraged in the Bible (Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:2-3). Jesus likewise encourages you to give your tired mind, body or soul to Him for refreshment (Matthew 11:28-30). Don’t be tired; get inspired.