Richard Ellis Talks Richard Ellis

Words can speak life, or they can speak death and destruction. When we participate in gossip or slander, we're allowing the tongue to destroy not only the person we're talking about, but also our own integrity. The words we choose to use have the power to harm other people or turn them to the Lord; which do we want it to be?

God intended for His followers to multiply, and we're His plan to make it happen. One of the signs of a mature believer is that he or she is bearing spiritual fruit and planting the seeds of the Gospel at every opportunity. To do that, it's important to first be growing in Him, staying connected in the Word, and walking with the Spirit.

It's likely that many of us are carrying hidden sin through our day-to-day lives. But whatever it is we're hiding will be exposed sooner or later; the only question is, do we want to expose it ourselves or wait until someone else finds out? Whatever we cover God will uncover, but the reverse is also true: whatever we're willing to uncover and surrender to Him, God will cover with His grace and mercy.

In a fast-paced culture that thrives on racing to accomplish goals at the cost of relationships, it requires both effort and intention to slow down and spend time with others -- including Jesus. In order to be used effectively by God, we have to first spend time building our relationship with Him.

All you have to do is read Scripture to know that from the beginning of Creation, people have used excuses to try to get out of having God use them in miraculous ways. Yet when they were finally willing to be used, God was still willing to use them. He has the power to accomplish what anyone would deem "impossible", and there's no limit to what He can do in us and through us for His Kingdom -- if we're willing to get rid of our excuses.

Suffering comes in a lot of different forms -- including choosing to do the right thing in the face of temptation. But even Jesus was tempted like we are today, and when we choose to follow Him, we're also choosing to suffer as He suffered. In those moments when we find ourselves facing a moment or a season of weakness, it's important to remember that the eternal reward of righteousness will always outweigh and outlast the fleeting pleasure of sin.