It’s a fantasy if not sheer lunacy that you could sit clueless on the sands of Iwo Jima. Or is it? 

The enemy of God will work overtime to undermine our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

You don’t necessarily feel God’s strength come over you. You don’t gain God’s strength. You don’t get it like a reward. You have it. 

Any endeavor that seeks to know or exalt our Father will be met with spiritual conflict.

We should review: Who are we? Why do we matter? What are we doing?

Our Heavenly Father intends for us to engage this essential: We live in Jesus Christ. If the first essential of life is knowing that Christ lives in us, this is the second essential. 

For all of the various relationships, jobs, obligations, responsibilities, projects, and products of our lives there are two essentials. Only two. 

As this man talked of his short leg it underscored that prayer is more than a posture. In a nutshell, prayer is a discussion with God; an ongoing exchange with our Heavenly Father.

Once in a while I begin a discussion—a time of prayer—by saying, “Dear most gracious Heavenly Father….” And once in a while I say to Dianne, “My dear, sweet wife….”

I met a man the other day who had a short leg. His cobbler had added an inch or better to his left shoe lest he list to port. He was open about his malady and casually began to tell me about how his short leg had affected his prayer life.

God is not threatened.

Does God ever stand up and get out of His chair?

And yet, He is seated.

We bury our heart’s desire under the refuse and well-intentioned refurbishment of our own effort and live focused upon ourselves. 

What do you do with an investment of this magnitude? How do you manage it? 

Every person desires to be part of something bigger than themselves.

It alarms me that we passively swallow what the media—secular or religious—present without thoughtful scrutiny. 

Recognize that you live in occupied territory. This world is not your home; you are simply passing through.

We are losing our ability to think critically about important matters. 

Stopping short is not an option.