How I identify myself matters very little. What’s important is what God thinks about me. Self-focus is a trap, a cage, a prison cell that keeps us from enjoying the glory and beauty that surrounds us.

Our human emotions and desires are often deceptive and frequently disavow reality. It’s dangerous to follow feelings that deny facts. To be dominated by your feelings and desires is to be caught in a kaleidoscope of cravings and continual confusion. Much of our misery is self-imposed.

We humans are frequently besieged by troubling feelings and distorted desires. Jesus offers us supernatural strength to overcome them. Our desires frequently aren’t good for us! Uncontrolled appetites will slowly tighten around your soul and trample it into surrender to sin and self-destruction.

Self-focus entangles us in tormenting desires and emotions, but Christ-focus enraptures us in awe and amazement. Our human cravings and compulsions are usually in conflict with Christ. That’s why Jesus taught, “Deny yourself.”

As important as it is to tell people about Jesus, it’s also important to show and train them how to daily connect with Him. If you don’t daily connect with Jesus heart-to-heart, you’re missing out on one of life’s most amazing aspects!

Grace is God’s gift of the supernatural ability to live right, not an excuse to live wrong. Growing in grace empowers us to follow God’s will instead of our own — to make the risen Jesus our Lord (our Absolute Master)! God’s plan for you: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”